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Public Holidays in South Africa 2025

South Africa has 13 public holidays in 2025. The first is New Year's Day on Wednesday, January 1 and the last is Day of Goodwill on Friday, December 26. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday.

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

South African public holidays 2025

Add to calendar (.ics) Printable 2025 calendar
Date Holiday
Wednesday New Year's Day
Friday Human Rights Day
Friday Good Friday
Monday Family Day
Sunday Freedom Day
Monday Freedom Day (observed)
Thursday Workers' Day
Monday Youth Day
Saturday National Women's Day
Wednesday Heritage Day
Tuesday Day of Reconciliation
Thursday Christmas Day
Friday 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 2025

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

  • Fri, Mar 21 – Sun, Mar 23

    Human Rights Day

    3 days

  • Fri, Apr 18 – Mon, Apr 21

    Good Friday, Family Day

    4 days

  • Sat, Apr 26 – Mon, Apr 28

    Freedom Day

    3 days

  • Sat, Jun 14 – Mon, Jun 16

    Youth Day

    3 days

  • Thu, Dec 25 – Sun, Dec 28

    Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill

    4 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 Fri, May 2 off

    Thu, May 1 – Sun, May 4 · Workers' Day

    4 days

  • Take Mon, Dec 15 off

    Sat, Dec 13 – Tue, Dec 16 · Day of Reconciliation

    4 days

Working days in South Africa 2025

Business days and working hours for every month and quarter.

2025 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 2025: questions and answers

How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2025?

There are 13 South African public holidays in 2025, 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 2025?

The South African public holidays in 2025 are New Year's Day (Wednesday, January 1), Human Rights Day (Friday, March 21), Good Friday (Friday, April 18), Family Day (Monday, April 21), Freedom Day (Sunday, April 27), Freedom Day (observed) (Monday, April 28), Workers' Day (Thursday, May 1), Youth Day (Monday, June 16), National Women's Day (Saturday, August 9), Heritage Day (Wednesday, September 24), Day of Reconciliation (Tuesday, December 16), Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25) and Day of Goodwill (Friday, December 26).

How many long weekends are there in South Africa in 2025?

There are 5 long weekends of three days or more in 2025: Mar 21–Mar 23 (3 days, Human Rights Day); Apr 18–Apr 21 (4 days, Good Friday, Family Day); Apr 26–Apr 28 (3 days, Freedom Day); Jun 14–Jun 16 (3 days, Youth Day); Dec 25–Dec 28 (4 days, Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill).

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 2025 in other countries

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