South Africa fewer public holidays more long weekends in 2025

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South Africans will enjoy one fewer public holiday next year, although there will be more long weekends in 2025 than in 2024.

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As reported by The South African website, Mzansi will have 14 public holidays in 2024 – the next of which falls on Monday, 16 December when the Day of Reconciliation is celebrated.

Included in that list are 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) this 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.

There will be no Voting day (that we are aware of …)

This means that South Africa will have 13 days of public holidays next 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.

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.

However, for public holidays that fall on a Saturday, it’s just a ‘normal’ weekend day.

Long weekend bonanza

The exciting news is that there are FIVE long weekends in 2025.

The first is thanks to Human Rights Day on Friday, 21 March giving South Africans 21-23 March off.

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.

Why do we celebrate the Day of Reconciliation?

The Day of Reconciliation is held annually on 16 December and was first celebrated in 1995.

The holiday came into effect in 1995 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity for the country.

Recognising the need for racial harmony, the government chose the date for its significance to both Afrikaner and indigenous South African cultures.

The celebration of the Day of Reconciliation can take the form of remembering past history, recognising veteran’s contributions, marching, and other festivities.

The origins of the celebration for Afrikaners goes back to the Day of the Vow, which commemorates the Voortrekker victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838.

For black and indigenous South Africans, the date marks both peaceful protests against racial injustice and the founding of the Umkhonto we Sizwe paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC) on 16 December 1961.

Nelson Mandela and the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission chose a day that was special to both ethno-racial groups in the country in order to work on healing the damage done by apartheid.