Holidays in South Africa 2024

South Africa observes 12 public holidays in 2024. 11 fall on a weekday and 1 land on a weekend, leaving 251 working days across the year on the national-only count.

2024 public holidays calendar

Date	Day	Holiday	Notes
Jan 1	Monday	New Year's Day	New Year's Day on Monday January 1 produces a three-day weekend with the immediately preceding Saturday and Sunday.
Mar 21	Thursday	Human Rights Day	Human Rights Day on Thursday March 21 is a strong bridge-day candidate; many employers grant the Friday as discretionary leave to produce a four-day weekend.
Mar 29	Friday	Good Friday	Good Friday on Friday March 29 produces a three-day weekend with the immediately following Saturday and Sunday.
Apr 1	Monday	Family Day	Family Day on Monday April 1 produces a three-day weekend with the immediately preceding Saturday and Sunday.
Apr 27	Saturday (weekend)	Freedom Day	Freedom Day on a Saturday (April 27) is absorbed into the weekend; the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 only shifts Sunday-falling holidays.
May 1	Wednesday	Workers' Day	Workers' Day on Wednesday May 1 breaks the working week without an obvious adjacent-weekend bridge opportunity.
Jun 17	Monday	Youth Day (observed)	Youth Day (observed) on Monday June 17 produces a three-day weekend with the immediately preceding Saturday and Sunday.
Aug 9	Friday	National Women's Day	National Women's Day on Friday August 9 produces a three-day weekend with the immediately following Saturday and Sunday.
Sep 24	Tuesday	Heritage Day	Heritage Day on Tuesday September 24 is a bridge-day candidate; the Monday is sometimes granted as discretionary leave to produce a four-day weekend.
Dec 16	Monday	Day of Reconciliation	Day of Reconciliation on Monday December 16 produces a three-day weekend with the immediately preceding Saturday and Sunday.
Dec 25	Wednesday	Christmas Day	Christmas Day on Wednesday December 25 breaks the working week without an obvious adjacent-weekend bridge opportunity.
Dec 26	Thursday	Day of Goodwill	Day of Goodwill on Thursday December 26 is a strong bridge-day candidate; many employers grant the Friday as discretionary leave to produce a four-day weekend.

2024 year summary

Total days

366

Weekend days

104

Public holidays on weekdays

Working days

251

The 1 weekend-falling public holidays in 2024 are absorbed into the regular Saturday and Sunday count, so the working-day reduction comes only from the 11 weekday-falling entries. South Africa observes 12 public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed under section 2 of the Act; Saturday-falling holidays are absorbed into the weekend without an in-lieu Monday.

Holidays not included

Religious observances such as Reformation Day, the Day of the Vow (pre-1994 December 16 name now replaced by Day of Reconciliation), and minor church-tradition days are not in this set. The Public Service Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act apply only to the 12 statutory holidays. School holidays vary by province and term schedule and are excluded. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) follows the same observance schedule as the SARB.

Other years

South Africa holidays 2025 South Africa holidays 2026 South Africa holidays 2027 South Africa holidays 2028 South Africa business day calculator Working days in 2026 Holiday data methodology

← South Africa business day calculator South Africa 2025 holidays →

South Africa Holidays 2024 - FAQ

How many public holidays does South Africa have in 2024?

South Africa observes 12 public holidays in 2024. Of those, 11 fall on a weekday and 1 land on a weekend. The complete list with dates and weekday placements is in the calendar table above.

How many working days does South Africa have in 2024?

South Africa has 251 working days in 2024 on the national-only count, after subtracting 104 weekend days and 11 weekday-falling public holidays. Regional or industry-specific holidays may further reduce the count for narrower contract definitions.

Which 2024 public holiday dates fall on a weekday?

11 of South Africa's 12 public holidays in 2024 fall on a weekday and reduce the working days count: New Year's Day (Monday, January 1); Human Rights Day (Thursday, March 21); Good Friday (Friday, March 29); Family Day (Monday, April 1); Workers' Day (Wednesday, May 1); Youth Day (observed) (Monday, June 17); National Women's Day (Friday, August 9); Heritage Day (Tuesday, September 24); Day of Reconciliation (Monday, December 16); Christmas Day (Wednesday, December 25); Day of Goodwill (Thursday, December 26).

Which 2024 holidays fall on a weekend and how are they handled?

1 public holidays in 2024 fall on a weekend: Freedom Day on Saturday, April 27. Sunday-falling South African holidays trigger an in-lieu Monday under section 2 of the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994; Saturday-falling holidays are absorbed into the weekend without an in-lieu Monday.