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    Holiday calendar

    South Africa Public Holidays 2026 & 2027

    South Africa's statutory holiday calendar includes 12 named public holidays each year, with an additional Monday public holiday whenever one falls on a Sunday. The tables below list 2026 and 2027 dates, including Easter holidays. Public-holiday work requires agreement, and BCEA payment rules depend on whether the employee ordinarily works that day.

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    Holiday calendar: reference table

    South Africa Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
    YearDateDayPublic holiday
    20261 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
    202621 MarchSaturdayHuman Rights Day
    20263 AprilFridayGood Friday
    20266 AprilMondayFamily Day
    202627 AprilMondayFreedom Day
    20261 MayFridayWorkers' Day
    202616 JuneTuesdayYouth Day
    20269 AugustSundayNational Women's Day
    202610 AugustMondayPublic holiday: Sunday observance
    202624 SeptemberThursdayHeritage Day
    202616 DecemberWednesdayDay of Reconciliation
    202625 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
    202626 DecemberSaturdayDay of Goodwill
    20271 JanuaryFridayNew Year's Day
    202721 MarchSundayHuman Rights Day
    202722 MarchMondayPublic holiday: Sunday observance
    202726 MarchFridayGood Friday
    202729 MarchMondayFamily Day
    202727 AprilTuesdayFreedom Day
    20271 MaySaturdayWorkers' Day
    202716 JuneWednesdayYouth Day
    20279 AugustMondayNational Women's Day
    202724 SeptemberFridayHeritage Day
    202716 DecemberThursdayDay of Reconciliation
    202725 DecemberSaturdayChristmas Day
    202726 DecemberSundayDay of Goodwill
    202727 DecemberMondayPublic holiday: Sunday observance

    Sunday observance and additional holidays

    When a public holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is also a public holiday. A Saturday holiday does not automatically create a Monday holiday.

    This calendar covers the standard Public Holidays Act list. Check official notices for any additional holidays proclaimed after publication.

    • 10 August 2026 follows National Women's Day on Sunday.
    • 22 March 2027 follows Human Rights Day on Sunday.
    • 27 December 2027 follows Day of Goodwill on Sunday.

    BCEA pay for working on a public holiday

    Where the BCEA public-holiday provisions apply, an employee who ordinarily works that day receives at least the ordinary daily wage if they do not work. If they work, pay at least double that daily amount, or the ordinary daily wage plus earnings for time worked if that is greater.

    If the holiday is not an ordinary working day and the employee works, pay the ordinary daily wage plus the amount earned for the work performed.

    Public-holiday work requires agreement. A written agreement may exchange a public holiday for another day; qualifying collective agreements may also regulate time off. Do not treat ordinary pay plus informal time off as an automatic substitute for the statutory premium.

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