Holiday Guide for South Africa in 2025

South Africa 2025

South Africa
2025

South Africa information

Population: 59.31m
Capital: Pretoria
Calling Code: (27)
Time Zone: 0 UTC
Currency: South African rand
Language: Afrikaans

List of National Holidays in South Africa in 2025

	Wednesday January 1st New Year's Day South Africa: New Year's Day is a public holiday in all countries that observe the Gregorian calendar, with the exception of Israel
	Friday March 21st Long Weekend! Human Rights Day South Africa: Marks the establishment of the Human Rights Commission and Sharpeville Day
	Friday April 18th Long Weekend! Good Friday South Africa: Good Friday occurs on the Friday before Easter. The day commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus.
	Monday April 21st Long Weekend! Family Day South Africa: In 1995 Easter Monday was renamed Family Day
	Sunday April 27th Freedom Day South Africa: Celebrates freedom and commemorates the first democratic post-apartheid non-racial elections held on April 27th 1994, which saw Nelson Mandela elected as President
	Monday April 28th Long Weekend! Freedom Day (in lieu) South Africa: As Freedom Day falls on a Sunday in 2025, the following Monday will be a public holiday.
	Thursday May 1st Workers' Day South Africa: This holiday is most commonly associated as a commemoration of the achievements of the labour movement
	Monday June 16th Long Weekend! Youth Day South Africa: Previously known as Soweto Day. Youth Day marks the start of the Soweto riots of 1976
	Saturday August 9th National Women's Day South Africa: The holiday commemorates the national march of women on this day in 1956 to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the pass
	Wednesday September 24th Heritage Day South Africa: Known as Erfenisdag in Afrikaans, the intention of Heritage Day is for all South Africans to celebrate their heritage, the diversity of their beliefs and traditions and remember their struggles against Apartheid
	Tuesday December 16th Day of Reconciliation South Africa: The Day of Reconciliation aims to to foster reconciliation between different racial groups in South Africa
	Thursday December 25th Christmas Day South Africa: Christmas celebrates the Nativity of Jesus which according to tradition took place on December 25th 1 BC
	Friday December 26th Long Weekend! Day of Goodwill South Africa: The second day of Christmas is known as Boxing Day or St. Stephens Day. St Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

Notes

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

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