Bumper Christmas! President Ramaphosa Declares 27 December a Public Holiday

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared Tuesday 27 December as a public holiday, in lieu of Christmas Day falling on a Sunday.

The ‘Christmas gift’ is according to the terms of the Public Holidays Act which provides that “whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday”.

In this instance, the Monday following the 25 December 2022 is another public holiday, Day of Goodwill.

If the holiday of Sunday, 25 December were to be moved to Monday, 26 December, this would cancel the holiday of 26 December or cause the two holidays – which are part of 12 paid public holidays annually – to overlap.

This would mean workers would only have 11 paid public holidays in this year, while Section 5 of the Public Holidays Act provides that “… every employee shall be entitled to … at least the number of public holidays as provided for in this Act.”

The Presidency said that in view of the unique circumstances around the 2022 calendar, and to uphold relevant labour law principles and practices, President Ramaphosa has declared Tuesday, 27 December, as a public holiday in lieu of Christmas Day.