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Public Holidays in South Africa 2016

South Africa has 14 public holidays in 2016. The first is New Year's Day on Friday, January 1 and the last is Christmas Day (observed) on Tuesday, December 27. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday.

14
Holidays
11
On working days
6
Long weekends
250
Working days

South African public holidays 2016

Add to calendar (.ics) Printable 2016 calendar
Date Holiday
Friday New Year's Day
Monday Human Rights Day
Friday Good Friday
Monday Family Day
Wednesday Freedom Day
Sunday Workers' Day
Monday Workers' Day (observed)
Thursday Youth Day
Tuesday National Women's Day
Saturday Heritage Day
Friday Day of Reconciliation
Sunday Christmas Day
Monday Day of Goodwill
Tuesday Christmas Day (observed)

Public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. A holiday on a Sunday moves to the Monday. Source: South African Government, public holidays; rules checked October 17, 2026.

Long weekends in 2016

Three or more days off in a row, with no leave needed.

  • Fri, Jan 1 – Sun, Jan 3

    New Year's Day

    3 days

  • Sat, Mar 19 – Mon, Mar 21

    Human Rights Day

    3 days

  • Fri, Mar 25 – Mon, Mar 28

    Good Friday, Family Day

    4 days

  • Sat, Apr 30 – Mon, May 2

    Workers' Day

    3 days

  • Fri, Dec 16 – Sun, Dec 18

    Day of Reconciliation

    3 days

  • Sat, Dec 24 – Tue, Dec 27

    Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill

    4 days

Take one day off, get a longer break

Book a single day of leave on these dates to join a holiday to the weekend.

  • Take Fri, Jun 17 off

    Thu, Jun 16 – Sun, Jun 19 · Youth Day

    4 days

  • Take Mon, Aug 8 off

    Sat, Aug 6 – Tue, Aug 9 · National Women's Day

    4 days

Working days in South Africa 2016

Business days and working hours for every month and quarter.

2016 calendar for South Africa

A printable year calendar with these holidays marked.

Countdown timer

Count down to the next holiday, Eid, Christmas or New Year.

South African holidays 2016: questions and answers

How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2016?

There are 14 South African public holidays in 2016, counting substitute days. 11 of them fall on working days, which leaves 250 working days after 105 weekend days.

What are the South African holidays in 2016?

The South African public holidays in 2016 are New Year's Day (Friday, January 1), Human Rights Day (Monday, March 21), Good Friday (Friday, March 25), Family Day (Monday, March 28), Freedom Day (Wednesday, April 27), Workers' Day (Sunday, May 1), Workers' Day (observed) (Monday, May 2), Youth Day (Thursday, June 16), National Women's Day (Tuesday, August 9), Heritage Day (Saturday, September 24), Day of Reconciliation (Friday, December 16), Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25), Day of Goodwill (Monday, December 26) and Christmas Day (observed) (Tuesday, December 27).

How many long weekends are there in South Africa in 2016?

There are 6 long weekends of three days or more in 2016: Jan 1–Jan 3 (3 days, New Year's Day); Mar 19–Mar 21 (3 days, Human Rights Day); Mar 25–Mar 28 (4 days, Good Friday, Family Day); Apr 30–May 2 (3 days, Workers' Day); Dec 16–Dec 18 (3 days, Day of Reconciliation); Dec 24–Dec 27 (4 days, Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill).

Which days are the weekend in South Africa?

The weekend in South Africa is Saturday and Sunday. Holidays that fall on a weekend are shown in the list, and the weekday given off instead is listed as well.

Are these holidays the same everywhere in South Africa?

Public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. A holiday on a Sunday moves to the Monday.

Public holidays 2016 in other countries

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