In 2024, South Africans can look forward to 14 public holidays. This number includes a bonus day off for a public holiday that coincides with a weekend and an expected day off for the 2024 national elections.
According to BusinessTech, although the date for the 2024 national elections is not yet official, it’s likely to be declared a public holiday to enable widespread voter participation.
Drawing from the precedent of the last national election on 8 May 2019, the 2024 elections are expected to fall within a similar period.
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An additional day off is scheduled for June 17, 2024, to commemorate Youth Day, which falls on a Sunday that year.
According to the Public Holidays Act (Act No. 36 of 1994), if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday. This rule applies to the observance of Youth Day in 2024.
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Here’s a list of public holidays in South Africa for 2024, as per the Act:
- 1 January: New Year’s Day
- 21 March: Human Rights Day
- 29 March: Good Friday
- 1 April: Family Day
- May (Date TBD): 2024 National Election
- 27 April: Freedom Day
- 1 May: Workers’ Day
- 16 June: Youth Day
- 17 June: Additional public holiday for Youth Day (observed)
- 9 August: National Women’s Day
- 24 September: Heritage Day
- 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
- 25 December: Christmas Day
- 26 December: Day of Goodwill
These additional public holidays have implications for businesses and employers, who must ensure fair compensation for workers on these days.
Under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), employees working on public holidays are entitled to double their ordinary wage or their standard wage plus the amount earned for work done that day, whichever is greater.
Employees who do not work on a public holiday that falls on a regular workday are still entitled to their usual wage for that day.
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