South Africa Business Day Calculator
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026 · Holiday data: October 13, 2026
Calculate business days in South Africa with the 12 public holidays that the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 determines pre-loaded, and the Monday the Act makes a public holiday when one falls on a Sunday. For a deadline that SARS, CIPC or the Labour Relations Act sets, check how that instrument counts the period before you rely on a business-day count.
How South African Business Days Are Defined
On this calculator, South African business days are Monday to Friday, less the 12 public holidays listed in Schedule 1 to the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, the Monday that section 2(1) makes a public holiday when one of them falls on a Sunday, and the days declared under section 2A that the next paragraph names. Section 2(2) lets an employer and an employee exchange a public holiday for another day they agree on; the calculator does not model such an exchange.
Section 2A, inserted by the Public Holidays Amendment Act 48 of 1995, lets the President declare any day a public holiday by proclamation in the Gazette, and since that amendment section 1 counts such a day among the public holidays. Election days have been declared this way, among them 29 May 2024 (Proclamation Notice 157 of 2024) and 4 November 2026 (Proclamation Notice 346 of 2026). The calculator's data holds those days, and the calculator does not count them as business days.
Sources for these rules
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 as published in Government Gazette 16136 of 7 December 1994 (the text as made, before Act 48 of 1995): s 1(2) references in other laws; s 2(1) the Monday after a Sunday public holiday; s 2(2) exchange by agreement; s 3 non-business days for bills of exchange; Schedule 1 the twelve public holidays (South African Government (Government Gazette))
- Public Holidays Amendment Act 48 of 1995 (Government Gazette 16716 of 4 October 1995): s 1 substitutes the definition of public holidays to add any day declared under section 2A; s 2 inserts section 2A, the President may by proclamation in the Gazette declare any day to be a public holiday (South African Government (Government Gazette))
- Proclamation Notice 157 of 2024 (Government Gazette 50165 of 23 February 2024): Public Holidays Act, declaration of 29 May 2024 as public holiday (South African Government (Government Gazette))
- Proclamation Notice 346 of 2026 (Government Gazette 55352 of 8 September 2026): Public Holidays Act, declaration of the fourth day of November 2026 as public holiday throughout the Republic (South African Government (Government Gazette))
Checked October 13, 2026. All sources
South Africa Public Holidays
The 12 public holidays in Schedule 1 to the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 are:
- New Year's Day (1 January)
- Human Rights Day (21 March)
- Good Friday (the Friday before Easter Sunday)
- Family Day (the Monday after Easter Sunday)
- Freedom Day (27 April)
- Workers' Day (1 May)
- Youth Day (16 June)
- National Women's Day (9 August)
- Heritage Day (24 September)
- Day of Reconciliation (16 December)
- Christmas Day (25 December)
- Day of Goodwill (26 December)
Under section 2(1) of the Act, whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is a public holiday. The Act has no rule for a public holiday that falls on a Saturday, so it stays on the Saturday. How we determine holidays →
Sources for these dates
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 as published in Government Gazette 16136 of 7 December 1994 (the text as made, before Act 48 of 1995): s 1(2) references in other laws; s 2(1) the Monday after a Sunday public holiday; s 2(2) exchange by agreement; s 3 non-business days for bills of exchange; Schedule 1 the twelve public holidays (South African Government (Government Gazette))
- Public holidays in South Africa: the holidays the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 determines, and its Sunday rule (South African Government)
Checked October 13, 2026. All sources
Common Use Cases in South Africa
The calculator counts business days on the South African public holiday calendar this page cites. This page states no SARS, CIPC or Labour Relations Act deadline: if one of them sets yours, read how it counts the period first. Once you know whether a window runs in business days or calendar days, the Response Deadline Calculator counts it on the same holiday calendar when you choose South Africa there.
Sources and verification
Official source: South African Government (gov.za) (opens in a new tab)
Cross-checked against this source on October 13, 2026.
For informational purposes only
This calculator provides general estimates based on business day counting rules. It does not constitute legal advice. Deadlines in legal, regulatory, or contractual matters may be subject to jurisdiction-specific rules, court orders, or statutory exceptions. Always verify critical deadlines with a qualified professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are South Africa's public holidays?
How does South African Sunday observance work?
What is the difference between Family Day and Easter Monday?
Is a public holiday a business day for a bill of exchange?
How many business days are in a South African working year?
South Africa working days by month
Working-day counts, calendar grids, and South African public holidays for each of the next 13 months.