A public holiday is coming up this week!

South Africans were upset to learn that they ‘lost’ a public holiday last weekend when Freedom Day fell on Saturday, 27 April.

However, there’s some good news ahead this week.

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.

However, when a public holiday falls on a Saturday, we lose out!

WORKERS’ DAY

The next public holiday which South Africans will get a day off work is Wednesday, 1 May when Workers’ Day will be celebrated.

Workers’ Day has been officially recognised and observed in South Africa since the first democratic elections in 1994.

Workers’ Day in South Africa holds its own cultural significance, as the public holiday has come to signify not only the sacrifices made on the long road toward fair employment standards but also the bitter battle against apartheid in which trade and labour unions played a key role.

Because South Africa’s working classes were those most oppressed by apartheid, the struggle for better working conditions and the struggle to overthrow systemic segregation became closely linked.

Before the elections of 1994, labour and trade groups often used Workers’ Day as a symbol to rally the population against the segregation and oppression of the apartheid system, organising demonstrations and encouraging widespread resistance.

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

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

Wednesday, 29 May: General elections

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

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.

ANY PLANS FOR WEDNESDAY’S PUBLIC HOLIDAY?

Let us know by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1