South Africans who have been smart with applying for leave can this month apply for just sevendays’ leave – and get 17 days out the office!
The next couple of weeks will be a number of short weeks and long weekends being observed.
Friday, 18 April is Good Friday, with Monday, 21 April also a holiday thanks to it being Family Day.
Freedom Day falls on Sunday, 27 April but the day is not lost as the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994) determines that whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following it will also be a public holiday.
Hence, Monday, 28 April will be another day off work as a public holiday for Freedom Day is observed.
Later that same week on Thursday, 1 May, it will be Workers’ Day.
That means if you hurry and apply for leave on the following sevendays, you can say goodbye to your works colleagues on Thursday, 17 April and only see them again 17 days later on Monday, 5 May:
22-25 April (4 days)
29-30 April (2 days)
2 May (1 day)
More long weekends in 2025
Meanwhile, although South Africans will enjoy one fewer public holiday in 2025, there will be more long weekends next year than in 2024.
As reported by The South African website, Mzansi had 14 public holidays in 2024.
Included in that number were two ‘extra’ days thanks to Voting day on Wednesday, 29 May, and an observation day for Youth Day, which fell on a Sunday (16 June) last year.
However, in 2025 there will only be one ‘extra’ public holiday for Freedom Day (Sunday, 27 April) meaning that Monday, 28 April will be a holiday.
This means that South Africa will have 13 days of public holidays this year, but only 12 will be actual days off work.
The fewer days off, the better for business in the country.
Working South Africans will not get a day off to celebrate National Women’s Day in 2025 because the public holiday falls on Saturday, 9 August.
However, for public holidays that fall on a Saturday, it’s just a ‘normal’ weekend day.
Long weekends
The exciting news is that there are FIVE long weekends in 2025.
The first, thanks to Human Rights Day on Friday, 21 March, gave South Africans 21-23 March off, but that’s now in the past.
The second is the Easter weekend with a four-day 18-21 April break to enjoy your chocolate.
The third is thanks to Freedom Day falling on Sunday, 27 April, meaning Monday, 28 April is a holiday – and another three-day weekend.
Monday, 16 June (Youth Day) will mean another three-day long weekend in mid-year, while the fifth and final long weekend in another four-day one with Christmas and the Day of Goodwill (Boxing Day) falling on a Thursday and Friday, respectively.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN 2025
Diarise the following public holidays in 2025 and plan your vacations accordingly!
Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Friday, 21 March: Human Rights Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Monday, 21 April: Family Day
Sunday, 27 April: Freedom Day
Monday, 28 April: Public holiday for Freedom Day observed
Thursday, 1 May: Workers’ Day
Monday, 16 June: Youth Day
Saturday, 9 August: National Women’s Day (lost)
Wednesday, 24 September: Heritage Day
Tuesday, 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Day of Goodwill
Average compared to other countries
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.
Work or play? What do long weekends mean to you?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
