South African public holidays 2026 and 2027
South Africa has 12 public holidays under the Public Holidays Act. When one falls on a Sunday, the Monday is also a holiday. The President can declare extra days, such as election days.
2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 21 March 2026 | Saturday | Human Rights Day |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 April 2026 | Monday | Family Day |
| 27 April 2026 | Monday | Freedom Day |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Workers' Day |
| 16 June 2026 | Tuesday | Youth Day |
| 9 August 2026 | Sunday | National Women's Day |
| 10 August 2026 | Monday | National Women's Day observed |
| 24 September 2026 | Thursday | Heritage Day |
| 4 November 2026 | Wednesday | Local government elections (special public holiday) |
| 16 December 2026 | Wednesday | Day of Reconciliation |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December 2026 | Saturday | Day of Goodwill |
2027
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | Friday | New Year's Day |
| 21 March 2027 | Sunday | Human Rights Day |
| 22 March 2027 | Monday | Human Rights Day observed |
| 26 March 2027 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March 2027 | Monday | Family Day |
| 27 April 2027 | Tuesday | Freedom Day |
| 1 May 2027 | Saturday | Workers' Day |
| 16 June 2027 | Wednesday | Youth Day |
| 9 August 2027 | Monday | National Women's Day |
| 24 September 2027 | Friday | Heritage Day |
| 16 December 2027 | Thursday | Day of Reconciliation |
| 25 December 2027 | Saturday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December 2027 | Sunday | Day of Goodwill |
| 27 December 2027 | Monday | Day of Goodwill observed |
Monday 27 December 2027 follows from the Sunday rule because the Day of Goodwill falls on a Sunday; the government's published 2027 list did not show it when we checked. Any special holiday declared for 2027 will be added when it is gazetted.
What to pay a domestic worker on a public holiday
- Holiday on a normal workday, not worked: the normal daily wage.
- Holiday on a normal workday, worked: at least double the daily wage (SD7 clause 18).
- Holiday on a day not normally worked, worked: the daily wage plus pay for the hours worked.
- Work on a public holiday is only by agreement. You and your worker may agree to swap a public holiday for another day.
- A public holiday that falls during annual leave on a normal workday adds a day of leave.
The payslip generator works out public holiday pay for you.
Frequently asked questions
What happens when a public holiday falls on a Sunday?
The Monday after it becomes a public holiday (Public Holidays Act, section 2(1)). In 2026 that is Monday 10 August; in 2027, Monday 22 March and Monday 27 December.
And on a Saturday?
Nothing moves. In 2026, Human Rights Day (21 March) and the Day of Goodwill (26 December) fall on a Saturday; in 2027, Workers' Day and Christmas Day do.
Is 4 November 2026 a public holiday?
Yes. The President declared Wednesday 4 November 2026, the local government elections day, a public holiday throughout the country.
My worker does not normally work on the day of the holiday. Do I pay?
No extra pay is due if they do not work. If they do work on a day they would not normally work, pay their normal daily wage plus pay for the hours worked.