South Africans missed out on a day off work for the most recent public holiday, but there’s better news later this month.
National Women’s Day was ‘lost’ in terms of a day off work as it fell on Saturday, 9 August and was just a ‘normal’ weekend day.
The Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994) determines that whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following it will also be a public holiday.
However, for public holidays that fall on a Saturday, it’s just a ‘normal’ weekend day.
Of course, the fewer days off, the better for business in the country.
However, the next public holiday will result in a day off from work on Wednesday, 24 September when Heritage Day – or Braai Day as it’s become commonly known – will be celebrated.
Why does South Africa celebrate Heritage Day?
Heritage Day is a South African public holiday celebrated annually on 24 September.
On this day, South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their culture and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people.
South Africans celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa.
Various events are staged throughout the country and more often than not, South Africans enjoy a braai to commemorate this day.
Next long weekend
There are FIVE long weekends in 2025.
Four have already passed with the fifth and final one scheduled to be four-day long weekend with Christmas and the Day of Goodwill (Boxing Day) falling on a Thursday and Friday, respectively.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN 2025
Diarise the following public holidays in 2025 and plan your vacations accordingly!
Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Friday, 21 March: Human Rights Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Monday, 21 April: Family Day
Sunday, 27 April: Freedom Day
Monday, 28 April: Public holiday for Freedom Day observed
Thursday, 1 May: Workers’ Day
Monday, 16 June: Youth Day
Saturday, 9 August: National Women’s Day (lost)
Wednesday, 24 September: Heritage Day
Tuesday, 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Day of Goodwill
Average compared to other countries
In a typical year, South Africa has 12 public holidays, which is roughly the average when compared to other countries.
The global average for public holidays is 11 days.
Workers in most European countries enjoy 10-14 public holidays a year. The United Kingdom, however, has only eight.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Myanmar has 30 public holidays, while Sri Lanka, Iran, India and China have 29, 27, 21 and 17, respectively.
How many public holidays a year do you actually end up working?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
