CST to SAST Time Converter

Convert Central Standard Time (CST) to South Africa Standard Time (SAST). Both time zones are shown live below; current offset between them is 7 hours ahead.

Chicago · Central Standard Time
23:53:30
Monday, May 11, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00
Johannesburg · South Africa Standard Time
06:53:30
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
GMT+2 · UTC+02:00

Convert a specific time

From: CST (Chicago)
To: SAST (Johannesburg)
--:--

Daylight Saving status right now

CST (Central Standard Time)
Observes DST
Yes
In DST right now
Yes
Next fall back
2026-11-01
Offset shift
UTC-05:00 → UTC-06:00
SAST (South Africa Standard Time)
Observes DST
No

Heads up: CST observes DST while SAST does not. The 7-hour difference shown above will shift by one hour when CST starts or ends DST.

When can CST and SAST meet?

00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
CST
SAST
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in Chicago (CST). Each row shows the local working-hours state in that zone for the same moment in time.
1 hour of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours.
Best meeting window: 09:00–09:00 CST (16:00–16:00 SAST).

Hour-by-hour CST to SAST conversion table

CST time (Chicago)SAST time (Johannesburg)Status
00:00 Mon07:00 MonOff-hours both sides
01:00 Mon08:00 MonOff-hours both sides
02:00 Mon09:00 MonSAST working
03:00 Mon10:00 MonSAST working
04:00 Mon11:00 MonSAST working
05:00 Mon12:00 MonSAST working
06:00 Mon13:00 MonSAST working
07:00 Mon14:00 MonSAST working
08:00 Mon15:00 MonSAST working
09:00 Mon16:00 MonBoth at work
10:00 Mon17:00 MonCST working
11:00 Mon18:00 MonCST working
12:00 Mon19:00 MonCST working
13:00 Mon20:00 MonCST working
14:00 Mon21:00 MonCST working
15:00 Mon22:00 MonCST working
16:00 Mon23:00 MonCST working
17:00 Mon00:00 TueOff-hours both sides
18:00 Mon01:00 TueOff-hours both sides
19:00 Mon02:00 TueOff-hours both sides
20:00 Mon03:00 TueOff-hours both sides
21:00 Mon04:00 TueOff-hours both sides
22:00 Mon05:00 TueOff-hours both sides
23:00 Mon06:00 TueOff-hours both sides

Times computed for today in each zone using the IANA time zone database. The conversion accounts for daylight saving time wherever applicable.

About these time zones

Central Standard Time (CST)
IANA identifier
America/Chicago
Current UTC offset
UTC-05:00
Current abbreviation
CDT
Major cities in this zone
ChicagoHoustonDallasAustinNew Orleans
South Africa Standard Time (SAST)
IANA identifier
Africa/Johannesburg
Current UTC offset
UTC+02:00
Current abbreviation
GMT+2
Major cities in this zone
JohannesburgCape TownDurban

Sun today in Chicago and Johannesburg

Chicago
Sunrise
05:35
Sunset
20:00
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 24m
Johannesburg
Sunrise
06:38
Sunset
17:32
Solar noon
12:05
Daylight
10h 53m

Related converters

SAST to CST (reverse)CST to ESTCST to PSTCST to GMTCST to UTCCST to CETEST to SASTPST to SASTGMT to SASTUTC to SASTCET to SAST
Looking for local time? See time in Chicago or time in Johannesburg.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between CST and SAST right now?+
SAST (South Africa Standard Time) is currently 7 hours ahead CST (Central Standard Time). The exact difference can change when one or both zones transition into or out of daylight saving time.
Does CST or SAST observe daylight saving time?+
CST: observes daylight saving time. SAST: does not observe daylight saving time.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between CST and SAST?+
The strongest overlap is 09:00–09:00 CST (16:00–16:00 SAST), giving 1 hour when both sides are within standard 9am-5pm working hours.
What time is it in Johannesburg when it is 12:00 noon in Chicago?+
When it is 12:00 Mon in Chicago (CST), it is 19:00 Mon in Johannesburg (SAST).
Which IANA time zone identifiers are used for CST and SAST?+
CST maps to "America/Chicago" in the IANA database. SAST maps to "Africa/Johannesburg". These identifiers are what most software libraries use to convert times accurately, including DST handling.
Is Chicago ahead of or behind Johannesburg?+
Whether Chicago (CST) is ahead of or behind Johannesburg (SAST) depends on the current UTC offsets. Right now SAST is 7 hours ahead CST. The live converter and side-by-side clocks above always reflect the current direction.
What are the current UTC offsets for CST and SAST?+
CST is UTC-05:00 (CDT) and SAST is UTC+02:00 (GMT+2). Both offsets shift by one hour when the corresponding region enters or exits daylight saving time, so the live values on this page are the source of truth.
Can I schedule meetings during business hours for both CST and SAST?+
Yes. There are 1 hour of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours, with the strongest window at 09:00–09:00 CST.