Qibla direction in South Africa
Across 25 cities in South Africa, the Qibla points north-northeast (NNE): 10.4°–23.4° from true north, from Durban to Cape Town. Soshanguve is the closest to Mecca at 5,366 km, Cape Town the farthest at 6,558 km.
Qibla by city in South Africa
Bearings are from true north, largest cities first. Each city has a Qibla page with the compass and a prayer-times page with today and the next seven days.
| City | Bearing | Direction | To Mecca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburgprayer times | 14.6° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,446 km |
| Cape Townprayer times | 23.4° | north-northeast (NNE) | 6,558 km |
| Durbanprayer times | 10.4° | north (N) | 5,779 km |
| Pretoriaprayer times | 14.5° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,393 km |
| Sowetoprayer times | 14.8° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,458 km |
| Gqeberhaprayer times | 15.8° | north-northeast (NNE) | 6,340 km |
| Soshanguveprayer times | 14.7° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,366 km |
| Pietermaritzburgprayer times | 11.2° | north (N) | 5,764 km |
| Evatonprayer times | 14.8° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,486 km |
| Benoniprayer times | 14.3° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,437 km |
| Bloemfonteinprayer times | 16.1° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,806 km |
| Thembisaprayer times | 14.4° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,419 km |
| East Londonprayer times | 13.5° | north-northeast (NNE) | 6,184 km |
| Vereenigingprayer times | 14.6° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,499 km |
| Boksburgprayer times | 14.3° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,441 km |
| Welkomprayer times | 15.7° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,670 km |
| Newcastleprayer times | 12.0° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,571 km |
| Krugersdorpprayer times | 14.9° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,440 km |
| Rustenburgprayer times | 15.7° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,409 km |
| Emalahleniprayer times | 13.2° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,382 km |
| Randburgprayer times | 14.7° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,435 km |
| Roodepoortprayer times | 14.8° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,446 km |
| Botshabeloprayer times | 15.5° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,809 km |
| Brakpanprayer times | 14.2° | north-northeast (NNE) | 5,441 km |
| Kariegaprayer times | 16.1° | north-northeast (NNE) | 6,323 km |
How to face the Qibla in South Africa
- Open your phone’s compass and set it to true north if the app allows it.
- Turn until the compass reads the bearing of your city from the table above.
- You are now facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
If the compass only shows magnetic north, correct for the local magnetic declination. For the bearing at your exact position rather than the city centre, the live Qibla finder uses your device location and compass.
Also for South Africa: prayer times for your location and sunrise and sunset in South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Qibla direction in South Africa?
In South Africa the Qibla is to the north-northeast (NNE): 10.4°–23.4° from true north depending on the city. From Johannesburg, the largest city, it is 14.6°. Face that bearing to face the Kaaba in Mecca.
Is the Qibla the same everywhere in South Africa?
Nearly. Across the 25 cities listed here it changes by 12.9°, from 10.4° in Durban to 23.4° in Cape Town. A city-level bearing is accurate for the whole city; the live Qibla finder gives the bearing for your exact position.
How far is South Africa from Mecca?
Soshanguve is the closest city in this list, 5,366 km from the Kaaba along the great circle, and Cape Town the farthest at 6,558 km.