South Africans will get one fewer public holiday in 2025 – with the only consolation being that the remaining holidays will deliver more out of season long weekends than in 2024.

South Africa had 14 public holidays in 2024, with two ‘extra’ days coming from the 2024 national election on 29 May, and an observation day for Youth Day, which fell on a Sunday (16 June) this year.

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.

Typically, this results in one or more ‘extra’ public holidays in a year, where workers can earn more.

In 2025, while there is one ‘extra’ public holiday in the offing for observing Freedom Day (27 April and 28 April), this is counter-acted by one of the other public holidays next year falling on a Saturday (Women’s Day, 9 August).

Public holidays that fall on a Saturday do not get the observation day as with Sunday holidays—meaning South Africans will have one fewer day off (two if you count the fact there will be no bonus like election day).

This means that South Africa will, in effect, have the flat 12 days of public holidays next year – no freebies.