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JOHANNESBURG,January 26,2026 – South African workers face a slightly shorter holiday calendar in 2026,losing two public holidays due to how they fall on the week. It’s a bit of a buzzkill, honestly, but there’s still plenty of downtime to look forward to.
Holiday Headaches: two Fewer Days Off in 2026
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A quirk in South Africa’s Public Holidays Act means some workers will miss out on paid days off this year.
- South Africans will have two fewer public holiday days off in 2026.
- This is due to Human Rights Day and the Day of Goodwill falling on Saturdays.
- Freedom Day and Workers’ Day will create extended weekends.
- National Women’s Day falling on a Sunday means a Monday public holiday.
- It’s a bit of a silver lining.
everybody loves a public holiday-a paid day off that doesn’t touch your annual leave.But South Africans should brace for a slightly less festive 2026, with two fewer public holiday days than usual, according to the official calendar.
How Does This Happen?
The culprit is the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994). The law dictates that if a public holiday falls on a Sunday,the following Monday becomes a public holiday too. However, there’s no such luck if a holiday lands on a Saturday. Workers who don’t typically work on saturdays effectively lose that day off.
South Africa’s 12 public holidays run from New Year’s Day on January 1 to the Day of Goodwill on December 26. The dates for Good Friday and Easter Sunday shift each year, resolute by the ecclesiastical moon, typically falling between late March and late April.
A: Yes. The Public Holidays Act specifically states that the following Monday will be declared a public holiday in that instance.
While the country enjoys 12 public holidays, the actual number of days off depends on the day of the week each one occurs. If a holiday falls on a weekday, employees receive the day off. weekends, however, are governed by the 1994 Act.
The Lost Days
In 2026, Human Rights Day on March 21 and the Day of Goodwill on December 26 both fall on Saturdays. As a result, many South Africans won’t receive any additional time off for these dates.
A Glimmer of Hope
It’s not all doom and gloom. Freedom Day on April 27, 2026, lands on a Monday, creating a three-day weekend. Workers’ Day on May 1, 2026, falls on a Friday, offering another extended break.
National Women’s Day on August 9, 2026, is a Sunday, meaning Monday, August 10, will be a public holiday. So, while two days are lost, there’s still reason to celebrate the upcoming year’s public holiday schedule.
What are your thoughts on the 2026 public holiday calendar? Share your opinions in the comments below!