South Africa is gearing up to celebrate National Women’s Day this week, but there’s a catch that has many people disappointed.
This year, the important public holiday falls on a Saturday, meaning South Africans do not get a day off.
This is according to the Public Holidays Act (Act No. 36 of 1994), which states 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.
No day off for National Women’s Day
National Women’s Day, celebrated on 9 August every year, is one of the country’s most significant public holidays.
It commemorates the historic 1956 march where over 20 000 women of all races marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the apartheid government’s pass laws.
The march, led by Lillian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, is remembered as a defining moment in the fight for equality and women’s rights in South Africa.
The holiday is not just symbolic – it also serves as a day to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and the challenges that remain.
However, because National Women’s Day lands on a Saturday this year, South Africans working a standard Monday-to-Friday week won’t get an extra day off.
That means many people who were hoping for a long weekend will have to settle for a normal one!
Were you disappointed to miss out on a day off this year?
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.
