Working Hours in South Africa

The legal working week and day in South Africa, how overtime is paid, which days are the weekend, normal office hours and the paid leave you are owed.

Working week 45 hours Working day 9 hours Overtime pay 1.5× Weekend days Sat–Sun Business hours 8am–5pm Annual leave 15 days

Working week in South Africa

45 hours

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets a maximum of 45 ordinary hours a week, plus up to 10 hours of overtime.

Working day in South Africa

9 hours

The ordinary day is at most 9 hours on a five-day week, or 8 hours on a six-day week, with an hour’s meal break after 5 hours.

Overtime pay in South Africa

1.5×

Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the normal wage, and Sunday and public holiday work at double pay unless the worker normally works those days.

Weekend days in South Africa

Sat–Sun

Saturday and Sunday are the weekend for offices, banks and government. Shops and malls open seven days.

Business hours in South Africa

8am–5pm

Offices usually work 8am to 5pm or 8am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Banks generally open 9am to 3:30pm on weekdays and on Saturday mornings.

Annual leave in South Africa

15 days

Employees get 21 consecutive days of paid annual leave, which is 15 working days on a five-day week.

Checked 24 October 2026 against national labour laws and government sites. Laws change and this is a summary, not legal advice; check with the authority that applies to you.

Working days in South Africa 2026

Business days and working hours by month, after weekends and holidays.

Minimum wage in South Africa

The hourly and monthly minimum, in local money and US dollars.

South African public holidays 2026

Every holiday with its date and long weekends.