General information, not legal advice. Not a government site. Dates follow the Public Holidays Act, presidential declarations and the gazetted DBE school calendars.
How public holidays work in South Africa
The Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 sets the 12 public holidays, the Sunday rule and how extra days are declared.
General information about the Act, not legal advice.
The 12 public holidays
Schedule 1 of the Act lists these days:
New Year's Day, 1 January
Human Rights Day, 21 March
Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday
Family Day, the Monday after Easter Sunday
Freedom Day, 27 April
Workers' Day, 1 May
Youth Day, 16 June
National Women's Day, 9 August
Heritage Day, 24 September
Day of Reconciliation, 16 December
Christmas Day, 25 December
Day of Goodwill, 26 December
The Sunday rule
Section 2(1) says that whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a public holiday. A holiday on a Saturday stays on the Saturday. In 2027, for example, Human Rights Day and Day of Goodwill are Sundays, so Monday 22 March and Monday 27 December are holidays.
Special public holidays
Section 2A lets the President declare an extra public holiday by notice in the Gazette. Election days are the usual reason: 4 November 2026 was declared a public holiday for the local government elections. We add declared days to the holiday pages once they are published on gov.za.
Swapping a holiday
Section 2(2) lets an employer and employee agree to exchange a public holiday for another day. Without an agreement the public holiday stands. For pay when you work a public holiday, see working on a public holiday.
School holidays are different
School holidays, and special school holidays such as 26 April 2027, are set in the school calendar, not the Public Holidays Act. They are not public holidays for workers. See school terms 2027.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does South Africa have?
Twelve are listed in Schedule 1 of the Public Holidays Act. A year can have more when one falls on a Sunday (the Monday is added) or when the President declares a special holiday.
Does a Saturday public holiday move to Monday?
No. Only a public holiday on a Sunday moves to the following Monday.
Who can declare an extra public holiday?
The President, by notice in the Government Gazette under section 2A of the Act. This is usually done for national or local government elections.
Can my employer swap a public holiday for another day?
Only by agreement. Section 2(2) of the Act lets an employer and employee agree to exchange a public holiday for another day.
General information, not legal advice. KayaCalendar gives general information based on the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, presidential declarations of special public holidays published on gov.za, and the public school calendars gazetted by the Minister of Basic Education. It is not legal advice and is not a government website. The President can declare extra public holidays, and provinces, schools and employers may set their own arrangements, so check important dates with the official source.