Public holidays in South Africa 2018-2022

South Africa is traditionally a country with many ethnic groups and religions. A clear influence of the Christian church on the holiday calendar cannot be denied to the South Africans. This, however, is kept within rather narrow limits. More important here are the historical days of commemoration of the country's history.

Overall, South Africa is considered a country with a particularly high number of days off. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a day off. Therefore, Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday, for example, are not public holidays.

Back to overview: South Africa

Non-movable holidays

Non-statutory holidays are written in gray.

holiday	Local name	date
New Year's Day	New Year's Day	Jan, 1st
Human Rights Day	Human Rights Day	Mar, 21st
Memorial day of Van Riebeeck's arrival 1652	Founders Day	Apr, 6th
Day of Freedom	Freedom Day	Apr, 27th
Labor Day	Workers’ Day	May, 1st
Youth's Day	Youth Day	Jun, 17th
Women's Day	National Women’s Day	Aug, 9th
Rainbow Nation Culture Day South Africa	Heritage Day	Sep, 24th
Memorial Day Paul Kruger	Heroes' Day	Oct, 10th
Day of Atonement	Day of Reconciliation	Dec, 16th
Christmas Eve	Christmas Eve	Dec, 24th
Christmas Day	Christmas Day	Dec, 25th
Boxing Day	Day of Goodwill	Dec, 26th
New Year's Eve	New Year's Eve	Dec, 31st

Moving Holidays in South Africa

holiday	Local name	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Good Friday	Good Friday	Mar, 30th	Apr, 19th	Apr, 10th	Apr, 2nd	Apr, 15th
Easter Sunday	Easter Sunday	Apr, 1st	Apr, 21st	Apr, 12th	Apr, 4th	Apr, 17th
Easter Monday	Family Day	Apr, 2nd	Apr, 22nd	Apr, 13th	Apr, 5th	Apr, 18th
Ascension of Christ	Ascension Day	May, 10th	May, 30th	May, 21st	May, 13th	May, 26th
Mother's Day	Mother's Day	May, 13th	May, 12th	May, 10th	May, 9th	May, 8th
Whit Sunday	Pentecost	May, 20th	Jun, 9th	May, 31st	May, 23rd	Jun, 5th