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Public Holidays in South Africa 2018

South Africa has 13 public holidays in 2018. The first is New Year's Day on Monday, January 1 and the last is Day of Goodwill on Wednesday, December 26. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday.

13
Holidays
11
On working days
5
Long weekends
250
Working days

South African public holidays 2018

Add to calendar (.ics) Printable 2018 calendar
Date Holiday
Monday New Year's Day
Wednesday Human Rights Day
Friday Good Friday
Monday Family Day
Friday Freedom Day
Tuesday Workers' Day
Saturday Youth Day
Thursday National Women's Day
Monday Heritage Day
Sunday Day of Reconciliation
Monday Day of Reconciliation (observed)
Tuesday Christmas Day
Wednesday Day of Goodwill

Public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. A holiday on a Sunday moves to the Monday. Source: South African Government, public holidays; rules checked October 17, 2026.

Long weekends in 2018

Three or more days off in a row, with no leave needed.

  • Sat, Dec 30 – Mon, Jan 1

    New Year's Day

    3 days

  • Fri, Mar 30 – Mon, Apr 2

    Good Friday, Family Day

    4 days

  • Fri, Apr 27 – Sun, Apr 29

    Freedom Day

    3 days

  • Sat, Sep 22 – Mon, Sep 24

    Heritage Day

    3 days

  • Sat, Dec 15 – Mon, Dec 17

    Day of Reconciliation

    3 days

Take one day off, get a longer break

Book a single day of leave on these dates to join a holiday to the weekend.

  • Take Mon, Apr 30 off

    Fri, Apr 27 – Tue, May 1 · Freedom Day, Workers' Day

    5 days

  • Take Fri, Aug 10 off

    Thu, Aug 9 – Sun, Aug 12 · National Women's Day

    4 days

  • Take Mon, Dec 24 off

    Sat, Dec 22 – Wed, Dec 26 · Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill

    5 days

Working days in South Africa 2018

Business days and working hours for every month and quarter.

2018 calendar for South Africa

A printable year calendar with these holidays marked.

Countdown timer

Count down to the next holiday, Eid, Christmas or New Year.

South African holidays 2018: questions and answers

How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2018?

There are 13 South African public holidays in 2018, counting substitute days. 11 of them fall on working days, which leaves 250 working days after 104 weekend days.

What are the South African holidays in 2018?

The South African public holidays in 2018 are New Year's Day (Monday, January 1), Human Rights Day (Wednesday, March 21), Good Friday (Friday, March 30), Family Day (Monday, April 2), Freedom Day (Friday, April 27), Workers' Day (Tuesday, May 1), Youth Day (Saturday, June 16), National Women's Day (Thursday, August 9), Heritage Day (Monday, September 24), Day of Reconciliation (Sunday, December 16), Day of Reconciliation (observed) (Monday, December 17), Christmas Day (Tuesday, December 25) and Day of Goodwill (Wednesday, December 26).

How many long weekends are there in South Africa in 2018?

There are 5 long weekends of three days or more in 2018: Dec 30–Jan 1 (3 days, New Year's Day); Mar 30–Apr 2 (4 days, Good Friday, Family Day); Apr 27–Apr 29 (3 days, Freedom Day); Sep 22–Sep 24 (3 days, Heritage Day); Dec 15–Dec 17 (3 days, Day of Reconciliation).

Which days are the weekend in South Africa?

The weekend in South Africa is Saturday and Sunday. Holidays that fall on a weekend are shown in the list, and the weekday given off instead is listed as well.

Are these holidays the same everywhere in South Africa?

Public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. A holiday on a Sunday moves to the Monday.

Public holidays 2018 in other countries

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