SAST to CST Time Converter

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

Johannesburg · South Africa Standard Time
18:10:23
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
GMT+2 · UTC+02:00
Chicago · Central Standard Time
11:10:23
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00

Convert a specific time

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

Daylight Saving status right now

SAST (South Africa Standard Time)
Observes DST
No
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

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 SAST and CST meet?

00
01
02
03
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05
06
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08
09
10
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16
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SAST
CST
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in Johannesburg (SAST). 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: 16:00–16:00 SAST (09:00–09:00 CST).

Hour-by-hour SAST to CST conversion table

SAST time (Johannesburg)CST time (Chicago)Status
00:00 Wed17:00 TueOff-hours both sides
01:00 Wed18:00 TueOff-hours both sides
02:00 Wed19:00 TueOff-hours both sides
03:00 Wed20:00 TueOff-hours both sides
04:00 Wed21:00 TueOff-hours both sides
05:00 Wed22:00 TueOff-hours both sides
06:00 Wed23:00 TueOff-hours both sides
07:00 Wed00:00 WedOff-hours both sides
08:00 Wed01:00 WedOff-hours both sides
09:00 Wed02:00 WedSAST working
10:00 Wed03:00 WedSAST working
11:00 Wed04:00 WedSAST working
12:00 Wed05:00 WedSAST working
13:00 Wed06:00 WedSAST working
14:00 Wed07:00 WedSAST working
15:00 Wed08:00 WedSAST working
16:00 Wed09:00 WedBoth at work
17:00 Wed10:00 WedCST working
18:00 Wed11:00 WedCST working
19:00 Wed12:00 WedCST working
20:00 Wed13:00 WedCST working
21:00 Wed14:00 WedCST working
22:00 Wed15:00 WedCST working
23:00 Wed16:00 WedCST working

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

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
Central Standard Time (CST)
IANA identifier
America/Chicago
Current UTC offset
UTC-05:00
Current abbreviation
CDT
Major cities in this zone
ChicagoHoustonDallasAustinNew Orleans

Sun today in Johannesburg and Chicago

Johannesburg
Sunrise
06:39
Sunset
17:31
Solar noon
12:05
Daylight
10h 52m
Chicago
Sunrise
05:33
Sunset
20:02
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 28m

Related converters

CST to SAST (reverse)SAST to ESTSAST to PSTSAST to GMTSAST to UTCSAST to CETEST to CSTPST to CSTGMT to CSTUTC to CSTCET to CST
Looking for local time? See time in Johannesburg or time in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

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