Public holidays in South Africa 2021-2025
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 South Africans. This influence remains within quite narrow limits. More important here are the historical commemoration days of the country's history. Overall, South Africa is considered a country with a particularly high number of work-free days.If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a work-free day. Therefore, Easter Sunday and Whit Sunday, for example, are not public holidays.
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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, 16th |
| 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Good Friday | Apr, 2nd | Apr, 15th | Apr, 7th | Mar, 29th | Apr, 18th |
| Easter Sunday | Easter Sunday | Apr, 4th | Apr, 17th | Apr, 9th | Mar, 31st | Apr, 20th |
| Easter Monday | Family Day | Apr, 5th | Apr, 18th | Apr, 10th | Apr, 1st | Apr, 21st |
| Mother's Day | Mother's Day | May, 9th | May, 8th | May, 14th | May, 12th | May, 11th |
| Ascension of Christ | Ascension Day | May, 13th | May, 26th | May, 18th | May, 9th | May, 29th |
| Whit Sunday | Pentecost | May, 23rd | Jun, 5th | May, 28th | May, 19th | Jun, 8th |