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Public Holidays in South Africa 2023

South Africa has 14 public holidays in 2023. The first is New Year's Day on Sunday, January 1 and the last is Day of Goodwill on Tuesday, December 26. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday.

14
Holidays
11
On working days
6
Long weekends
249
Working days

South African public holidays 2023

Add to calendar (.ics) Printable 2023 calendar
Date Holiday
Sunday New Year's Day
Monday New Year's Day (observed)
Tuesday Human Rights Day
Friday Good Friday
Monday Family Day
Thursday Freedom Day
Monday Workers' Day
Friday Youth Day
Wednesday National Women's Day
Sunday Heritage Day
Monday Heritage Day (observed)
Saturday Day of Reconciliation
Monday Christmas Day
Tuesday Day of Goodwill

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 2023

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

  • Sat, Dec 31 – Mon, Jan 2

    New Year's Day

    3 days

  • Fri, Apr 7 – Mon, Apr 10

    Good Friday, Family Day

    4 days

  • Sat, Apr 29 – Mon, May 1

    Workers' Day

    3 days

  • Fri, Jun 16 – Sun, Jun 18

    Youth Day

    3 days

  • Sat, Sep 23 – Mon, Sep 25

    Heritage Day

    3 days

  • Sat, Dec 23 – Tue, Dec 26

    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 Mon, Mar 20 off

    Sat, Mar 18 – Tue, Mar 21 · Human Rights Day

    4 days

  • Take Fri, Apr 28 off

    Thu, Apr 27 – Mon, May 1 · Freedom Day, Workers' Day

    5 days

Working days in South Africa 2023

Business days and working hours for every month and quarter.

2023 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 2023: questions and answers

How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2023?

There are 14 South African public holidays in 2023, counting substitute days. 11 of them fall on working days, which leaves 249 working days after 105 weekend days.

What are the South African holidays in 2023?

The South African public holidays in 2023 are New Year's Day (Sunday, January 1), New Year's Day (observed) (Monday, January 2), Human Rights Day (Tuesday, March 21), Good Friday (Friday, April 7), Family Day (Monday, April 10), Freedom Day (Thursday, April 27), Workers' Day (Monday, May 1), Youth Day (Friday, June 16), National Women's Day (Wednesday, August 9), Heritage Day (Sunday, September 24), Heritage Day (observed) (Monday, September 25), Day of Reconciliation (Saturday, December 16), Christmas Day (Monday, December 25) and Day of Goodwill (Tuesday, December 26).

How many long weekends are there in South Africa in 2023?

There are 6 long weekends of three days or more in 2023: Dec 31–Jan 2 (3 days, New Year's Day); Apr 7–Apr 10 (4 days, Good Friday, Family Day); Apr 29–May 1 (3 days, Workers' Day); Jun 16–Jun 18 (3 days, Youth Day); Sep 23–Sep 25 (3 days, Heritage Day); Dec 23–Dec 26 (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 2023 in other countries

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