South Africa Business Day Calculator

Last reviewed: May 19, 2026 · Holiday data: May 19, 2026

Calculate business days in South Africa with all 12 public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 pre-loaded and Sunday Mondayisation applied. Use this calculator for SARS PAYE EMP201 deposit on the 7th, VAT201 on the 25th (manual) or 27th (eFiling), IRP6 provisional tax cycles, CIPC annual returns, and CCMA referral windows under the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995.

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How South African Business Days Are Defined

In South Africa, business days are Monday through Friday, excluding the 12 public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB), the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), and SAMOS (the high-value RTGS settlement system) all observe the same schedule. SARS, CIPC, and CCMA filing windows run against this national set, and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 uses working days for statutory leave entitlements.

South Africa Public Holidays

The 12 public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 are:

New Year's Day (January 1, Sunday Mondayised)
Human Rights Day (March 21, Sunday Mondayised)
Good Friday (variable)
Family Day (Easter Monday, variable)
Freedom Day (April 27, Sunday Mondayised)
Workers' Day (May 1, Sunday Mondayised)
Youth Day (June 16, Sunday Mondayised)
National Women's Day (August 9, Sunday Mondayised)
Heritage Day (September 24, Sunday Mondayised)
Day of Reconciliation (December 16, Sunday Mondayised)
Christmas Day (December 25, Sunday Mondayised)
Day of Goodwill (December 26, Sunday Mondayised)

Saturday-falling holidays are absorbed into the weekend without an in-lieu Monday; only Sunday-falling holidays shift forward under section 2 of the Act. How we determine holidays →

Common Use Cases in South Africa

South African business-day cycles align with SARS PAYE EMP201 deposit on the 7th of the following month, VAT201 on the 25th (manual) or 27th (eFiling), and the provisional tax IRP6 cycle (28 February and 31 August, with a voluntary third instalment by 30 September) for February year-end taxpayers. The South African Reserve Bank operates SAMOS as the high-value RTGS system on bank business days. The Companies Act 71 of 2008 governs CIPC annual returns, due in each company's anniversary month. Under the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, CCMA referrals must be made within 30 days of dismissal or 90 days for unfair labour practice claims; the Response Deadline Calculator stages either window against the SA public holiday calendar.

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?

South Africa observes 12 public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994: New Year's Day, Human Rights Day (March 21), Good Friday, Family Day (Easter Monday), Freedom Day (April 27), Workers' Day (May 1), Youth Day (June 16), National Women's Day (August 9), Heritage Day (September 24), Day of Reconciliation (December 16), Christmas Day (December 25), and Day of Goodwill (December 26).

How does South African Sunday observance work?

Section 2 of the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 provides that when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday. The Act does not shift Saturday-falling holidays, which are absorbed into the weekend without an in-lieu Monday. When two adjacent holidays land such that the Monday after a Sunday-falling holiday is already a public holiday (for example, December 26 falling on Sunday with December 27 free), the next available weekday is observed instead.

What is the difference between Family Day and Easter Monday?

Family Day is the South African name for Easter Monday under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. The name change in 1994 was part of the post-apartheid restructuring of the public holiday calendar that also added Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, Youth Day, National Women's Day, Heritage Day, and the Day of Reconciliation. Family Day is the same calendar date as Easter Monday and follows the same Easter-derived variable date each year.

Are CCMA referral windows counted in business days?

Yes. Under the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, a referral of a dismissal dispute to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) must be lodged within 30 days of the date of dismissal. Unfair labour practice claims must be referred within 90 days. Both windows count working days excluding South African public holidays and weekends, and may also exclude the official court recess from December 16 to January 7 in some configurations.

How many business days are in a South African working year?

South Africa typically has around 247 to 250 working days per year after accounting for 12 public holidays. The exact count depends on which holidays land on weekends versus weekdays in a given year. The 2024-2029 working-day counts are available on the holidays-by-year pages linked below.

South Africa working days by month

Working-day counts, calendar grids, and South African public holidays for each of the next 13 months.

May 2026 June 2026 July 2026 August 2026 September 2026 October 2026 November 2026 December 2026 January 2027 February 2027 March 2027 April 2027 May 2027