Public holidays in South Africa 2023

15 nationwide public holidays in 2023.

Next nationwide holiday in South Africa

See the list of nationwide holidays below.

Nationwide holidays 2023

Date	Weekday	Holiday
1 January Sunday	Sunday	New Year's Day
2 January Monday	Monday	New Year's Day (observed) Observed day off for New Year's Day (Sun 1 Jan)
21 March Tuesday	Tuesday	Human Rights Day
7 April Friday	Friday	Good Friday
10 April Monday	Monday	Family Day
27 April Thursday	Thursday	Freedom Day
1 May Monday	Monday	Workers' Day
16 June Friday	Friday	Youth Day
9 August Wednesday	Wednesday	National Women's Day
24 September Sunday	Sunday	Heritage Day
25 September Monday	Monday	Heritage Day (observed) Observed day off for Heritage Day (Sun 24 Sep)
15 December Friday	Friday	Public Holiday by Presidential Decree
16 December Saturday	Saturday	Day of Reconciliation
25 December Monday	Monday	Christmas Day
26 December Tuesday	Tuesday	Day of Goodwill

Long weekends and bridge days 2023

Based on nationwide holidays and the weekend in South Africa (Saturday and Sunday). Regional, local and group holidays are not included.

Long weekends

Sat 31 Dec – Mon 2 Jan 2023 · 3 days off
New Year's Day, New Year's Day (observed)
Typically in Johannesburg: high 28°C (82°F), low 16°C (61°F), rain on 50% of days
Fri 7 Apr – Mon 10 Apr · 4 days off
Good Friday, Family Day
Typically in Johannesburg: high 24°C (75°F), low 12°C (54°F), rain on 41% of days
Sat 29 Apr – Mon 1 May · 3 days off
Workers' Day
Typically in Johannesburg: high 24°C (75°F), low 9°C (48°F), rain on 13% of days
Fri 16 Jun – Sun 18 Jun · 3 days off
Youth Day
Typically in Johannesburg: high 19°C (66°F), low 3°C (37°F), rain on 3% of days
Sat 23 Sep – Mon 25 Sep · 3 days off
Heritage Day, Heritage Day (observed)
Typically in Johannesburg: high 28°C (82°F), low 11°C (52°F), rain on 13% of days
Fri 15 Dec – Sun 17 Dec · 3 days off
Public Holiday by Presidential Decree, Day of Reconciliation
Typically in Johannesburg: high 29°C (84°F), low 15°C (59°F), rain on 57% of days
Sat 23 Dec – Tue 26 Dec · 4 days off
Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill
Typically in Johannesburg: high 29°C (84°F), low 16°C (61°F), rain on 60% of days
Sat 30 Dec – Mon 1 Jan 2024 · 3 days off
New Year's Day
Typically in Johannesburg: high 28°C (82°F), low 16°C (61°F), rain on 54% of days

Bridge days

Mon 20 Mar: take 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Sat 18 Mar – Tue 21 Mar)
Human Rights Day
Typically in Johannesburg: high 28°C (82°F), low 14°C (57°F), rain on 31% of days
Fri 28 Apr: take 1 day off, get 5 days in a row (Thu 27 Apr – Mon 1 May)
Freedom Day, Workers' Day
Typically in Johannesburg: high 24°C (75°F), low 10°C (50°F), rain on 13% of days

Leave planner 2023

Choose how many leave days you can take for one break. The planner finds the breaks that give the most days off in a row around nationwide holidays and weekends, and marks the leave days on the calendar below.

Leave days per break: 3

Longest break with up to 3 leave days: Sat 23 Dec – Mon 1 Jan 2024 — 10 days off for 3 leave days (Wed 27 Dec, Thu 28 Dec, Fri 29 Dec).Show on calendar ↓

Take 1 day off (Mon 20 Mar) get 4 days in a rowSat 18 Mar – Tue 21 Mar · Human Rights DayShow on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Thu 6 Apr) get 5 days in a rowThu 6 Apr – Mon 10 Apr · Good Friday, Family DayShow on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Fri 28 Apr) get 5 days in a rowThu 27 Apr – Mon 1 May · Freedom Day, Workers' DayShow on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Thu 15 Jun) get 4 days in a rowThu 15 Jun – Sun 18 Jun · Youth DayShow on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Fri 22 Sep) get 4 days in a rowFri 22 Sep – Mon 25 Sep · Heritage Day, Heritage Day (observed)Show on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Fri 22 Dec) get 5 days in a rowFri 22 Dec – Tue 26 Dec · Christmas Day, Day of GoodwillShow on calendar ↓