South Africa Public Holidays in 2024
In 2024, South Africa is set to enjoy two additional public holidays, bringing the total to 14 for the year. This includes a special day off to observe a public holiday falling over a weekend and an anticipated day off for citizens to participate in the 2024 national elections.
While the official date for the 2024 national elections has not been officially announced, it is a customary practice for the day to be declared a public holiday by the president. This decision allows all South Africans the opportunity to exercise their right to vote. The last national election was held on 8 May 2019, and it is expected that the 2024 elections will occur around the same timeframe.
The second additional day off in 2024 will be on 17 June, dedicated to observing Youth Day, which officially falls on 16 June. As per the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994), when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is declared a public holiday. Hence, 17 June becomes an additional public holiday in accordance with this Act.
Here is a comprehensive list of all the public holidays in South Africa for 2024
- 1 January – New Year’s Day
- 21 March – Human Rights Day
- 29 March – Good Friday
- 1 April – Family Day
- May (TBD) – 2024 National Election
- 27 April – Freedom Day
- 1 May – Workers’ Day
- 16 June – Youth Day
- 17 June – Public holiday, 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
Beyond being a welcomed break for the general public, additional public holidays also hold significance for businesses and employers. They are tasked with ensuring that their employees are fairly compensated for the time worked on these special days. As South Africa looks forward to these extra moments of respite and celebration, businesses are encouraged to plan accordingly, taking into consideration the implications on staffing and operations during these additional holidays.
