During the period between Union in 1910, and the establishment of the present republic in 1994, the following were the official public holidays: In gold, the former National Day. On public holidays most offices are closed in South Africa. Historical public holidays. The elections were the first non-racial national elections where everyone of voting age of over 18 from any race group, including foreign citizens permanently resident in South Africa, were allowed to vote. BD. Introduction to South African public holidays. South African Department of Education academic school calendar with school terms 2016,school holidays 2016, public holidays 2016, including school vacations, long weekends 2016 and high/low seasons.Free online calendar for January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December 2016. If you find an error, please let us know. The aim of the Commission is to promote respect for human rights, promote the protection, development and attainment of human rights, and to monitor and assess the observance of human rights in SA. Make sure you check back regularly on … That's because you didn't select any holiday types. This day commemorates 9 August 1956 when women participated in a national march to petition against pass laws (legislation that required African persons to carry a document on them to 'prove' that they were allowed to enter a 'white area'). The Prisoners of Tradition and the Politics of Nation-building. Work on a public holiday is entirely voluntary and a worker (including domestic workers) may not be forced to work on such public holiday. We also provide South Africa holiday calendar for 2014 in Word, Excel, PDF and printable online formats. © Time and Date AS 1995–2021. Human Rights Day. Tax Day April 15, 2021. Most tourist attractions, banks and other government services are closed on public holidays, but most grocery stores and shops do open (though some for limited hours). At the Sharpeville police station a scuffle broke out. 1994. Get school holiday dates There are 12 annual South African bank holidays as determined by the Public Holidays Act. Freedom Day : 27 April. New Year's Day : 1 January. Today, monday, 8 february, 2021 Working day : yes Week : 06 / 52 Day of the year : 39 / 365 Working day of the year : 26 / 251 Time (UTC +01) : 22:09 Human Rights Day (observance day because public holiday falls on a Sunday): 22 March. Family Day: 5 April. ", (Statement issued by the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 17 September 1996). State & national holidays are included into free printable calendar. 2026 blank and printable Calendar with South Africa Holidays in Word document format. Cape Town, Reader's Digest. Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday. All the long weekend and public holidays for your diary. South African public holidays 2016 with long weekends 2016 including Easter dates 2016: Easter Weekend 2016 (Good Friday 2016, Easter Sunday 2016 & Easter Monday 2016). Holidays South Africa 2026. There are 12 public holidays in South Africa in 2021, and 4 of them fall on weekends. Employees are entitled to 12 paid public holidays per year. South Africa's present calendar of public holidays was introduced in 1994. South Africa holidays in 2022. Youth Day : 16 June. This is what Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announced to Parliament on Copyright 2021 Government of South Africa. Here’s a list of all the South African public holidays you need to know in 2021 and 2022, as well as other important dates to make a note of on your calendar. Overview of holidays and many observances in South Africa during the year 2026 These dates are unlikely to be modified by the Department of Basic Education. South Africa Public Holidays 2022 ; This page contains a national calendar of all 2022 public holidays. No matter how solemn their intention, they are regarded by most as shopping-extravaganza days. Januar 2026: New Year's Day : 2: Samstag, 21. Good Friday: When Does it Happen in 2019/2020 List of Public Holidays 2018 Here is a list of the Public Holidays in South Africa in the Year 2021. Historical public holidays. South Africa has 12 public holidays as determined by the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994) [PDF]. South Africa has 12 public holidays as determined by the south African Goverment. You can find all the 12 months (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, Read More When are the Public Holiday dates for South Africa in 2020? During the ceremony Dingane had Retief and his entourage murdered - an event which was witnessed by Francis Owen, a missionary who described the scene in his diary. To choose another year, please use the drop-down menu above. When Apartheid ended and the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela came into power in South Africa in 1994, the national holidays were changed to days that would be meaningful to all South … Isra and Mi'raj (Isra Me'raj, Israa and Mi'raaj, Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj, Lailat al Miraj, Night Journey and Ascension to Heaven) marks the night that the Prophet Mohammad traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven and returned. In terms of the negotiations Dingane promised the Voortrekkers land on condition they returned cattle to him stolen by Sekonyela (the Tlokwa chief). South Africa Holidays in 2021. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994. **The Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994 [PDF]) determines whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following on it shall be a public holiday. South Africa Public holidays. South Africa is also a country of massive cultural diversity and, to celebrate this, there are many fun and inspiring events. The information on this page has been compiled to the best of our abilities. The Native Laws Amendment Act of 1952 extended Government control over the movement of Africans to urban areas and abolished the use of the Pass Book (a document which Africans were required to carry on them to 'prove' that they were allowed to enter a 'white area') in favour of a reference book which had to be carried at all times by all Africans. South African Public Holidays. Malls also in smaller towns, are generally open on the official holidays, but might have shorter opening hours, please double check with the shopping centre. With the advent of democracy in South Africa 16 December retained its status as a public holiday, however, this time with the purpose of fostering reconciliation and national unity. The issue, however, was not so much the Afrikaans as the whole system of Bantu education which was characterised by separate schools and universities, poor facilities, overcrowded classrooms and inadequately trained teachers. The dates for private schools differ slightly from the government schools dates so booking holiday accommodation must be done well in advance to avoid missing out. The following days are public holidays and national holidays in South Africa for the year 2017 Failure to produce the reference book on demand by the police, was a punishable offence. 1 January: New Year’s Day21 March: Human Rights Day19 April: Good Friday*22 April: Family Day*27 April: Freedom Day1 May: Workers' Day8 May: Elections (as proclaimed in Government Gazette 42250 of 26 February 2019)16 June: Youth Day17 June: Public holiday**9 August: National Women’s Day24 September: Heritage Day16 December: Day of Reconciliation25 December: Christmas Day26 December: Day of Goodwill* The dates on which Good Friday and Easter Sunday fall are determined according to th… South Africa Public Holidays 2020 ; This page contains a national calendar of all 2020 public holidays. Public holidays for South Africa: The importance of Human Rights Day. Department of Home Affairs. As defined by the SA Government, Human Rights Day is historically linked with 21 … Popular upcoming holidays you may be interested in. In the wake of clashes with the police, and the violence that ensued during the next few weeks, approximately 700 people, many of them youths, were killed and property destroyed. Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe Public Holidays. Whether you’re living in South Africa or just visiting, it’s important to note the dates of South Africa’s holidays. SIMKINS, C. 1988. This intuitive… Printable 2021 Calendar South Africa With Public Holidays Pdf. The current and proposed school holidays for South Africa 2020 National State of Disaster Schools were closed from Wednesday, 18 March. "Heritage has defined as "that which we inherit: the sum total of wild life and scenic parks, sites of scientific or historical importance, national monuments, historic buildings, works of art, literature and music, oral traditions and museum collections together with their documentation. As defined by the SA Government, Human Rights Day is historically linked with … 27 April Freedom Day Freedom Day commemorates the first democratic elections held in South Africa on 27 April 1994. Free Printable 2021 Calendar South Africa With Public Holidays And School Terms – A calendar can possibly be viewed as an user-friendly tool, used throughout numerous daily activities. The Bill of Rights contained in the national Constitution is the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. All 2026 Holidays of Australia are listed in the table below. The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) proposed an anti-Pass campaign to start on 21 March 1960. Freedom Day commemorates the first democratic elections held in South Africa on 27 April 1994. all in 1774 days. South Africa School Holidays 2021 ; This page contains a calendar of all 2021 school holidays in South Africa. Johannesburg: South African Institute of Race Relations. Outlook 2016 (msi only) Includes holidays to 2026. South Africa. Note: The standalone hol-file can be used with all Outlook versions and not just Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010 as the download page might suggest. School Calendar for 2016 , for the first time all 9 provinces government schools will have exactly the same dates. While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. März 2026: Human Rights Day : 3: Freitag, 3. Free Comic Book Day May 01, 2021. Public holidays for South Africa: The importance of Human Rights Day. This Retief did and apparently he and Dingane signed a treaty on 6 February 1838. Please check at least one of the boxes. The South African is an independent, no agenda and bias online news platform that gives the latest news updates. The calendars are also compatible with Google Docs and Open Office. south african public holidays calendar 2021/2022 South Africa has 12 public holidays as determined by the Public Holidays Act ( Act No 36 of 1994 ) [ PDF ]. The current and proposed school holidays for South Africa. ... National Women's Day is a South African public holiday celebrated annually on 9 August. 2016 South Africa Public Holiday Calendar. 2016 South African Public Holidays [TABLE=135] » Download holidays in Outlook and iCal format HERE. All African men were to take part in the campaign without their passes and present themselves for arrest. Only three Voortrekkers were wounded, but more than 3 000 Zulus were killed during the battle. Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday. Illustrated History of South Africa: The Real Story, 1989. Workers' Day : 1 May. Outlook 2013 Includes holidays to 2026. Part of a wire fence was trampled, allowing the crowd to move forward. Read more about Freedom Day celebrations. Report of the technical working group on public holidays to the Minister's Committee. May Info & Fun Facts; May Birthstone: Emerald: May Astrological Sign: Taurus (till 20th) & Gemini (21st →) In Australia people enjoy an average of 11 paid holidays a year. Late in 1837 one of the Voortrekker leaders, Piet Retief, entered into negotiations for land with Dingane, the Zulu king. 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. These dates may be modified as official changes are announced, so please check back regularly for updates. Includes holidays to 2028. Campaigners gathered at police stations in townships near Johannesburg where they were dispersed by police. * The dates on which Good Friday and Easter Sunday fall are determined according to the ecclesiastical moon. Ideal for use as a work calendar, church calendar, planner, scheduling reference, etc. Southern African Countries Public Holidays Calendar – 2021. However, please check back regularly for any updates that may occur. Here is a quick look at South Africa’s long weekends and public holidays, so you can make the most of leave days, mini breaks and school holidays by venturing up … South Africa's present calendar of public holidays was introduced in 1994. Heritage Day : 24 September. The Vernal (Spring) Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the Autumnal (Fall) Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. Overview of celebrated public holidays in South Africa during 2026. When holidays in South Africa fall on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically given as a public holiday. The importance of Family Day is uniting families together in the spirit of the holiday. Christmas Day : 25 December. Many South African public holidays were established in honor of political struggles and the country’s fight to achieve equality for all citizens. Here you see the holidays South Africa for the year 2026. Last Updated: March 2020. The city slows down dramatically from around December 16 each year until early January, with the shopping frenzy tapering off between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day when locals take a break, often heading for the coast or to family in other provinces. Youth Day, previously known as Soweto Day, commemorates these events. Heritage Day South Africa 2018 is on Monday, 24 September 2018; Day of Reconciliation is on Sunday, 16 December 2018; Christmas Day is on Tuesday, 25 December 2018; Day of Goodwill is on Wednesday, 26 December 2018 . The following is the list of public holidays in South Africa in 2021. We also provide South Africa holiday calendar for 2016 in Word, Excel, PDF and printable online formats. In an address marking Heritage Day in 1996, (former) President Mandela stated: "When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation. But the land was not empty and clashes between these Afrikaners and indigenous peoples were inevitable. Public holidays in South Africa are generally referred to as bank holidays. 2014 Public Holidays South Africa Service. On 16 December 1838 about 10 000 troops under the command of Dambuza (Nzobo) and Nhlela attacked the Voortrekkers, but the 470 Voortrekkers, with the advantage of gun powder, warded them off. Office Holidays provides calendars with dates and information on public holidays and bank holidays in key countries around the world. Public Holiday: Sat, March 20: March equinox: Season: Tue, April 27: Freedom Day: Public Holiday: Sun, July 18: Nelson Mandela Day: Observance: Fri, September 24: Heritage Day: Public Holiday : South Africa holidays in 2020. See the list below of the public holidays in South Africa as well as nationwide events, which could affect your travel plans. South Africa has 12 public holidays. The Bill of Rights contained in the Constitutionis the cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. In 1975 protests started in African schools after a directive from the then Bantu Education Department that Afrikaans had to be used on an equal basis with English as a language of instruction in secondary schools. With detailed information in which federal state the holiday is celebrated. Government determines a theme for each year's celebrations. The National Arts Festival in Grahamstown is touted as being the largest annual arts festival in Africa, while the Design Indaba in Cape Town is a massive testimony to the incredibly progressive world of international design in all of its multifaceted genres. 2020 2021 2022 2021. South Africa will have 13 public holidays in 2021, including an additional two days off to celebrate public holidays which fall over a weekend. Holiday date Holiday name Holiday Type; Fri, January 1: New Year's Day: Public Holiday: Sat, March 20: March equinox: Season: Tue, April 27: Freedom Day: Public Holiday: Sun, July 18: Nelson Mandela Day: Observance: Fri, September 24: Heritage Day: Public Holiday: South Africa holidays in 2020. Pretoria: Department of Home Affairs. March: Human Rights Day all Sa 03/21/2026 in 1853 days. Add all the South African Public Holidays for 2016 to your Outlook or other calendars automatically. This is because many public institutions and companies close on these days. **The Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994 [PDF]) determines whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following on it shall be a public holiday. The overview below contains all common holidays and observances for Australia in 2026. "Within a broader social and political context, the day's events…are a powerful agent for promulgating a South African identity, fostering reconciliation and promoting the notion that variety is a national asset as opposed to igniting conflict. The above is the list of 2014 public holidays declared in South Africa which includes federal, regional government holidays and popular observances. Datum Feiertag; 1: Donnerstag, 1. South African Public Holidays and meanings/reasons (Current) Meaning and description of South African Public Holidays. South Africa wants to stabilize its public debt level at 88.6% by 2025/2026. In ensuing battles between Zulus and Voortrekkers over the next few months numerous lives were lost on both sides. The current and proposed school holidays for South Africa. Public Holidays in South Africa (2021). 2020 2021 2022 2021. No holidays shown? "The day is one of our newly created public holidays and its significance rests in recognising aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the land in which we live. We did so knowing that the struggles against the injustice and inequities of the past are part of our national identity; they are part of our culture. South African President, Jacob Zuma, has finally declared Wednesday, August 3, 2016, the date of the upcoming South African Local Government Elections, as a one-off non-working public holiday in South Africa.