{"country":"South Africa","code":"za","years":[2026,2027],"weekend_days":["Sunday","Saturday"],"scope":"National public holidays only; regional holidays are not included.","page":"https://timebento.com/public-holidays/za.html","open_in_app":"https://timebento.com/za","holidays":[{"date":"2026-01-01","name":"New Year's Day","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic and cultural","about":"The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.","at_work":"Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.","what_to_say":"Happy New Year! Wishing you a great year ahead.","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-03-21","name":"Human Rights Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and remembrance","about":"In South Africa, 21 March is the day of the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, and is kept as Human Rights Day. It is also the day of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.","at_work":"Fine to mention with respect: it is a day of remembrance as well as a day off.","what_to_say":"Wishing you a thoughtful Human Rights Day.","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-04-03","name":"Good Friday","day_off":true,"kind":"Religious (Christian)","about":"A solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It falls on the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday.","at_work":"Fine to mention the long weekend. It is a sombre day for those who observe it, so avoid \"Happy Good Friday\". Its date moves every year with Easter, so check the calendar when planning spring deadlines.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the Easter weekend!","usual":{"days":"1 day, part of a long weekend","note":"Easter Monday is a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries, so many people have a four-day weekend."}},{"date":"2026-04-06","name":"Family Day","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic","about":"In South Africa, Easter Monday was renamed Family Day after 1995. It follows the Easter weekend, so it is a day to spend with family.","at_work":"Fine to mention. A Monday off at the end of the Easter long weekend.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the long weekend with your family!","usual":{"days":"Last day of the Easter weekend"}},{"date":"2026-04-27","name":"Freedom Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National","about":"Freedom Day, on 27 April, commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994, in which everyone could vote, and the day the new constitution was introduced.","at_work":"Fine to mention. A day off.","what_to_say":"Happy Freedom Day!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-05-01","name":"Workers' Day","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic","about":"International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a \"great international demonstration\" for the eight-hour day.","at_work":"Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the day off!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-06-16","name":"Youth Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and remembrance","about":"On 16 June, South Africa remembers the Soweto uprising of 1976, when black school children began to protest against the use of Afrikaans as a language of instruction in their schools. They were met with police violence. Youth Day is a day of remembrance and a public holiday.","at_work":"Fine to mention with respect: it is a day of remembrance as well as a day off.","what_to_say":"Remembering Youth Day today.","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-08-09","name":"National Women's Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and remembrance","about":"South Africa's National Women's Day on 9 August commemorates the 1956 march of about 20,000 women of all races to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws of the apartheid era. The first National Women's Day was in 1995.","at_work":"Very welcome to mention. A day off, and a day to recognise women's contribution.","what_to_say":"Happy Women's Day!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-08-10","name":"National Women's Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and remembrance","about":"South Africa's National Women's Day on 9 August commemorates the 1956 march of about 20,000 women of all races to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws of the apartheid era. The first National Women's Day was in 1995.","at_work":"Very welcome to mention. A day off, and a day to recognise women's contribution.","what_to_say":"Happy Women's Day!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-09-24","name":"Heritage Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and cultural","about":"A South African public holiday on 24 September, when people are encouraged to celebrate their cultures, diversity and traditions in a nation that belongs to all its people. If it falls on a Sunday, the next Monday is a holiday.","at_work":"Very welcome to mention. A day off.","what_to_say":"Happy Heritage Day!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-11-04","name":"Local Government Elections","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic","about":"A public holiday declared on the day of South Africa's local government (municipal) elections. It has been declared for elections in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021.","at_work":"Not a regular holiday: it appears only in an election year, on the election's date. Check the date before planning anything around it.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the day.","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2026-12-16","name":"Day of Reconciliation","day_off":true,"kind":"National and civic","about":"A South African public holiday on 16 December, in effect since 1995 after the end of apartheid, to foster reconciliation and national unity. It replaced an earlier day called Dingane's Day.","at_work":"Fine to mention. A day off.","what_to_say":"Wishing you a peaceful Day of Reconciliation.","usual":{"days":"1 day, part of the summer break"}},{"date":"2026-12-25","name":"Christmas Day","day_off":true,"kind":"Religious (Christian) and cultural","about":"Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.","at_work":"Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, \"Happy holidays\" is a safe choice.","what_to_say":"Merry Christmas! Or: \"Happy holidays, enjoy the break.\"","usual":{"days":"1 day","note":"Many countries also have 24 or 26 December off."}},{"date":"2026-12-26","name":"Day of Goodwill","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic","about":"A public holiday in South Africa on 26 December, the day after Christmas.","at_work":"A day off in the Christmas break; colleagues in South Africa will be away.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the holiday!","usual":{"days":"1 day, part of the Christmas break"}},{"date":"2027-01-01","name":"New Year's Day","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic and cultural","about":"The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.","at_work":"Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.","what_to_say":"Happy New Year! Wishing you a great year ahead.","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2027-03-21","name":"Human Rights Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and remembrance","about":"In South Africa, 21 March is the day of the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, and is kept as Human Rights Day. It is also the day of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.","at_work":"Fine to mention with respect: it is a day of remembrance as well as a day off.","what_to_say":"Wishing you a thoughtful Human Rights Day.","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2027-03-22","name":"Human Rights Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and remembrance","about":"In South Africa, 21 March is the day of the Sharpeville massacre of 1960, and is kept as Human Rights Day. It is also the day of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.","at_work":"Fine to mention with respect: it is a day of remembrance as well as a day off.","what_to_say":"Wishing you a thoughtful Human Rights Day.","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2027-03-26","name":"Good Friday","day_off":true,"kind":"Religious (Christian)","about":"A solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It falls on the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday.","at_work":"Fine to mention the long weekend. It is a sombre day for those who observe it, so avoid \"Happy Good Friday\". Its date moves every year with Easter, so check the calendar when planning spring deadlines.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the Easter weekend!","usual":{"days":"1 day, part of a long weekend","note":"Easter Monday is a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries, so many people have a four-day weekend."}},{"date":"2027-03-29","name":"Family Day","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic","about":"In South Africa, Easter Monday was renamed Family Day after 1995. It follows the Easter weekend, so it is a day to spend with family.","at_work":"Fine to mention. A Monday off at the end of the Easter long weekend.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the long weekend with your family!","usual":{"days":"Last day of the Easter weekend"}},{"date":"2027-04-27","name":"Freedom Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National","about":"Freedom Day, on 27 April, commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994, in which everyone could vote, and the day the new constitution was introduced.","at_work":"Fine to mention. A day off.","what_to_say":"Happy Freedom Day!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2027-05-01","name":"Workers' Day","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic","about":"International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a \"great international demonstration\" for the eight-hour day.","at_work":"Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the day off!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2027-06-16","name":"Youth Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and remembrance","about":"On 16 June, South Africa remembers the Soweto uprising of 1976, when black school children began to protest against the use of Afrikaans as a language of instruction in their schools. They were met with police violence. Youth Day is a day of remembrance and a public holiday.","at_work":"Fine to mention with respect: it is a day of remembrance as well as a day off.","what_to_say":"Remembering Youth Day today.","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2027-08-09","name":"National Women's Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and remembrance","about":"South Africa's National Women's Day on 9 August commemorates the 1956 march of about 20,000 women of all races to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws of the apartheid era. The first National Women's Day was in 1995.","at_work":"Very welcome to mention. A day off, and a day to recognise women's contribution.","what_to_say":"Happy Women's Day!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2027-09-24","name":"Heritage Day","day_off":true,"kind":"National and cultural","about":"A South African public holiday on 24 September, when people are encouraged to celebrate their cultures, diversity and traditions in a nation that belongs to all its people. If it falls on a Sunday, the next Monday is a holiday.","at_work":"Very welcome to mention. A day off.","what_to_say":"Happy Heritage Day!","usual":{"days":"1 day"}},{"date":"2027-12-16","name":"Day of Reconciliation","day_off":true,"kind":"National and civic","about":"A South African public holiday on 16 December, in effect since 1995 after the end of apartheid, to foster reconciliation and national unity. It replaced an earlier day called Dingane's Day.","at_work":"Fine to mention. A day off.","what_to_say":"Wishing you a peaceful Day of Reconciliation.","usual":{"days":"1 day, part of the summer break"}},{"date":"2027-12-25","name":"Christmas Day","day_off":true,"kind":"Religious (Christian) and cultural","about":"Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.","at_work":"Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, \"Happy holidays\" is a safe choice.","what_to_say":"Merry Christmas! Or: \"Happy holidays, enjoy the break.\"","usual":{"days":"1 day","note":"Many countries also have 24 or 26 December off."}},{"date":"2027-12-26","name":"Day of Goodwill","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic","about":"A public holiday in South Africa on 26 December, the day after Christmas.","at_work":"A day off in the Christmas break; colleagues in South Africa will be away.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the holiday!","usual":{"days":"1 day, part of the Christmas break"}},{"date":"2027-12-27","name":"Day of Goodwill","day_off":true,"kind":"Civic","about":"A public holiday in South Africa on 26 December, the day after Christmas.","at_work":"A day off in the Christmas break; colleagues in South Africa will be away.","what_to_say":"Enjoy the holiday!","usual":{"days":"1 day, part of the Christmas break"}}],"moved_between_years":[{"name":"Good Friday","from":"2026-04-03","to":"2027-03-26","from_iso_week":"2026-W14","to_iso_week":"2027-W12","calendar_days":-8,"direction":"earlier","month_changed":true},{"name":"Family Day","from":"2026-04-06","to":"2027-03-29","from_iso_week":"2026-W15","to_iso_week":"2027-W13","calendar_days":-8,"direction":"earlier","month_changed":true}],"working_days":{"2026":{"total":250,"months":{"January":21,"February":20,"March":22,"April":19,"May":20,"June":21,"July":23,"August":20,"September":21,"October":22,"November":20,"December":21},"quarters":{"Q1":63,"Q2":60,"Q3":64,"Q4":63}},"2027":{"total":251,"months":{"January":20,"February":20,"March":20,"April":21,"May":21,"June":21,"July":22,"August":21,"September":21,"October":21,"November":22,"December":21},"quarters":{"Q1":60,"Q2":63,"Q3":64,"Q4":64}}},"source":"TimeBento","built_on":"2026-11-04"}