Seismic profiles extending from the southern South African shelf into the deep sea reveal a strong erosional activity, which affects large parts of the continental margin. Quaternary to Oligocene units and, in places, the complete sedimentary column appear to have been removed. Mass movements were previously considered as the origin of this erosion. However, structures indicating slumping can be identified in only a few places. The erosional activity is confined to specific water depths, which correlate well with the activity levels of water masses observed here. We thus suggest that the Agulhas Current, Antarctic Intermediate Water, North Atlantic Deep Water, and Antarctic Bottom Water have intensively shaped the sedimentary units over a long period. This indicates a stable circulation comparable to that at present day since the Neogene. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.