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SA will have one public holiday fewer next year. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Public Holidays in 2024

South Africans can expect to enjoy 14 public holidays in 2024, with an extra public holiday as one holiday falls on a Sunday

public holiday sa
SA will have one public holiday fewer next year. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

South Africa will have 14* public holidays in 2024 – a number which includes an additional day off to celebrate one public holiday which falls on a Sunday.

The Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994) determines that whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following it shall be a public holiday.

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However, South Africans will ‘lose’ one public holiday next year as Freedom Day falls on Saturday, 27 April.

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Diarise the following public holidays in 2024 and plan your vacations accordingly!

* UPDATE: Due to the 2024 general elections next year, South Africa will be granted an extra public holiday. Although the exact date is yet to be confirmed, it’s likely to be on a Wednesday in late April, or more likely May.

As reported by The South African website HERE, billionaire Rob Hersov has predicted that the elections will take place on 22 May 2024.

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One public holiday has passed – at the time of publishing.

The next public holiday is Human Rights Day, which falls on Thursday, 21 March.

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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN 2024

Monday, 1 January: New Year’s Day

Thursday, 21 March: Human Rights Day

Friday, 29 March: Good Friday

Monday, 1 April: Family Day

Saturday, 27 April: Freedom Day

Wednesday, 1 May: Workers’ Day

Sunday, 16 June: Youth Day

Monday, 17 June: Public holiday Youth Day observed

Friday, 9 August: National Women’s Day

Tuesday, 24 September: Heritage Day

Monday, 16 December: Day of Reconciliation

Wednesday, 25 December: Christmas Day

Thursday, 26 December: Day of Goodwill

TBC – General election public holiday

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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.