For 2025, South Africans will experience a change in the public holiday calendar, with one less day off, compared to 2024, Cape {town} Etc reports.
One silver lining is an increase in long weekends, which will provide plenty of opportunities for extended breaks throughout the year.
In 2024, there were 14 South African public holidays, due to the inclusion of two additional days: one for the national elections held on 29 May and another observation day for Youth Day, according to BusinessTech.
South Africa’s Public Holidays Act ensures that when a public holiday lands on a Sunday, the following Monday is declared a holiday, which would offer workers an extra day off.
However, when a public holiday falls on a Saturday, no observation day is granted, which would mean that the holiday essentially ‘disappears’ for many workers.
This distinction would come yet again into play in 2025.
National Women’s Day, which annually falls on 9 August, also falls on a Saturday this year. This will not result in an additional day off.
On the other hand, Freedom Day falls on Sunday, 27 April, and will extend into Monday, 28 April. This would give South Africans an extra long weekend.
These adjustments will leave South Africa with the standard 12 public holidays for the year but with only 11 weekdays off work.
The year will kick off with Human Rights Day on Friday, 21 March, which will create a three-day weekend.
This will be followed by the Easter break from 18 to 21 April, namely a four-day holiday that includes Good Friday and Family Day.
Freedom Day’s Sunday occurrence will mean that 28 April will add another long weekend to the calendar.
Youth Day on Monday, 16 June, will provide a mid-year break, and the year will finally conclude with a four-day holiday spanning from Christmas, on Thursday, 25 December, and the Day of Goodwill, on Friday, 26 December.
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