Public Holidays in South Africa

There are 12 officially recognised Public Holidays in South Africa as laid out in the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994).

When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day, Monday, becomes a public holiday.

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2025

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2026

New Year’s Day (1st January)
The 1st of January falls exactly one week after Christmas, and has been recognised as the start of the new year for hundreds of years.
As such it is the world’s most widely observed public holiday.

Human Rights Day (21st March)
A public holiday to commemorate the massacre at Sharpeville on 21st March 1960.
The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) had organized a protest against two laws which dictated where blacks were allowed to live and restricted their movement by making them carry an identity document, commonly known as a dompas (dumb pass).
Feeling threatened, the police at the Sharpeville police station opened fire, apparently unprovoked, resulting in 69 deaths and 180 injuries.

Good Friday (a different Friday every year!)
A Christian holiday remembering the crucifixion of Jesus and His resultant death at Calvary.
Easter is the most significant holy day of the Christian Church, as it celebrates Christ’s resurrection.

Family Day (a different Monday every year!)
Easter Monday until being renamed Family Day in 1995. The intention is to create a long weekend where families and friends could spend more time together

Freedom Day (27th April)
Freedom Day commemorates the first democratic elections held in South Africa on 27th April 1994.

Workers’ Day (1st May)
Workers’ Day, which takes its origins from May Day, celebrates the role played by trade unions, the Communist Party and other labour movements in the struggle against apartheid.

Youth Day (16th June)
Youth Day commemorates the march in Soweto on 16th June 1976, when more than 20,000 school children protested against Afrikaans being used as a teaching medium.
The inferior Bantu Education system as a whole was the true underlying cause.
Police intervened, and the ensuing violence left roughly 700 dead and massive damage to property.

National Women’s Day (9th August)
This day commemorates the national protest march, held on 9th August 1956, by women to petition against legislation that required blacks to carry the dompas.

Heritage Day (24th September)
This is a public holiday to commemorate everything that is typically South African – as varied as the land in which we live to our historical inheritance and our language and creative expression to the type of food we eat.
The intention is to promote the belief that these facets are a national asset and not a drawback and reason for conflict.

Day of Reconciliation (16th December)
Prior to 1994, the 16th December was known as “The Day of the Vow” in commemoration of the victory of the Voortrekkers over the Zulu army at the Battle of Blood River on the 16th December 1838.
With the advent of democracy in South Africa, 16th December was retained as a public holiday, but is now used to foster reconciliation and national unity.

Christmas Day (25th December)
Is an annual Christian festival that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ

Day of Goodwill (26th December)
A public holiday set aside to relax, recover from the over indulgence and show compassion

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2024

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2023

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2022

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2021

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2020

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2019

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2018

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2017

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2016

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2015

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2014

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2013

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2012

Public Holidays in South Africa in 2011