South Africa Public Holidays 2025 – Official Calendar and Recent Updates
South Africa observes 12 official public holidays in 2025. These holidays provide opportunities for rest, reflection and celebration. This guide lists the dates, explains substitute holidays, highlights recent changes and offers planning tips for the year.
Official public holidays in 2025
When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically declared a public holiday in lieu. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, no substitute day is generally provided.
| Date |
Day |
Holiday |
Notes |
| 1 January |
Wednesday |
New Year’s Day |
|
| 21 March |
Friday |
Human Rights Day |
Long weekend |
| 18 April |
Friday |
Good Friday |
Easter weekend |
| 21 April |
Monday |
Family Day |
Easter weekend |
| 27 April |
Sunday |
Freedom Day |
|
| 28 April |
Monday |
Freedom Day (observed) |
Substitute holiday for 27 April |
| 1 May |
Thursday |
Workers’ Day |
|
| 16 June |
Monday |
Youth Day |
Long weekend |
| 9 August |
Saturday |
National Women’s Day |
No substitute day |
| 24 September |
Wednesday |
Heritage Day |
|
| 16 December |
Tuesday |
Day of Reconciliation |
|
| 25 December |
Thursday |
Christmas Day |
Part of year-end long weekend |
| 26 December |
Friday |
Day of Goodwill |
Part of year-end long weekend |
Recent updates & key points
In 2025 National Women’s Day falls on a Saturday and, per standard practice, there is no additional weekday off. By contrast, Freedom Day (27 April) falls on a Sunday and is observed on Monday 28 April. Overall the year offers several long‑weekend opportunities for leave planning.
How to plan around the holidays
- Check company leave policies and collective agreements for extra observances or paid‑time‑off rules.
- Use long weekends (March, April, June and December) to maximise consecutive time off by booking adjacent annual leave.
- Confirm public holiday pay rules for employees required to work on these dates.
Summary table
| Total public holidays (2025) |
Notes |
| 12 |
Includes substitute day for Freedom Day (observed 28 April); no substitute for holidays falling on Saturday. |
FAQs
1. What happens if a public holiday falls on a Sunday?
The following Monday is usually declared a public holiday in lieu.
2. Will National Women’s Day get a substitute day off in 2025?
No — because it falls on a Saturday, no substitute weekday is typically granted.
3. How many public holidays are there in 2025?
There are 12 official public holidays in South Africa for 2025.
Final notes
These dates are based on standard public holiday practice in South Africa. Before publishing, verify any regional variations or employer‑specific arrangements and update links to official government notices if required.
