South Africa Public Holidays 2027
South Africa has 12 statutory public holidays in 2027 under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Two of them fall on a Sunday — Human Rights Day (Mar 21) and Day of Goodwill (Dec 26) — so the following Mondays (Mar 22 and Dec 27) are public holidays too, giving 14 days off in total.
Days off
14
Statutory holidays
12
Longest break
Easter · 4 days
Year-end break
Dec 25–27 · 3 days
2027 South Africa calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
South Africa public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 | Friday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 21, 2027 | Sunday | Human Rights DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 22, 2027 | Monday | Human Rights Day (observed)Human Rights Day (Mar 21) falls on a Sunday in 2027. Under the Public Holidays Act, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday the following Monday is also a public holiday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| March 26, 2027 | Friday | Good FridayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 29, 2027 | Monday | Family DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| April 27, 2027 | Tuesday | Freedom DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2027 | Saturday | Workers' DayWorkers' Day falls on a Saturday in 2027. The Public Holidays Act only grants a substitute Monday when a holiday falls on a Sunday — there is no substitute for Saturday holidays.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 16, 2027 | Wednesday | Youth DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| August 9, 2027 | Monday | National Women's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| September 24, 2027 | Friday | Heritage DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 16, 2027 | Thursday | Day of ReconciliationPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2027 | Saturday | Christmas DayChristmas Day falls on a Saturday in 2027. The Public Holidays Act provides no substitute day for holidays that fall on a Saturday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2027 | Sunday | Day of GoodwillPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 27, 2027 | Monday | Day of Goodwill (observed)Day of Goodwill (Dec 26) falls on a Sunday in 2027, so the following Monday is also a public holiday under the Act. Some published lists omit this Monday, but the Sunday-to-Monday rule applies automatically.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
How South African public holidays work
South Africa has 12 statutory public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 — from New Year's Day and Human Rights Day in the first quarter to Freedom Day, Workers' Day and the festive-season days at the end of the year. Unlike Australia or the US, the list is fully national: there are no provincial public holidays.
The Act has one substitution rule: when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is also a public holiday. In 2027 this fires twice — Human Rights Day (Sunday Mar 21) adds Monday Mar 22, and Day of Goodwill (Sunday Dec 26) adds Monday Dec 27. Holidays that fall on a Saturday, like Workers' Day and Christmas Day in 2027, get no substitute.
Planning 2027: a good year for long weekends
2027 is kind to holiday planners. New Year's Day falls on a Friday and Heritage Day (Sep 24) on a Friday too, each making a three-day weekend. National Women's Day (Aug 9) lands on a Monday for another three-day break, and the two substitute Mondays (Mar 22 and Dec 27) turn those weekends into three-day breaks as well.
The longest break of the year is Easter: Good Friday (Mar 26) through Family Day (Monday Mar 29) gives four consecutive days off. At year end, Christmas Day (Saturday), Day of Goodwill (Sunday) and the observed Monday Dec 27 line up as a three-day holiday run — Dec 25–27.
Download & subscribe
Official sources & data
- Public holidaysVisit sourceSouth African Government
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994Visit sourceSouth African Government
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does South Africa have in 2027?+
Twelve statutory public holidays are set by the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Because two of them fall on a Sunday in 2027 (Human Rights Day and Day of Goodwill), the following Mondays are also public holidays — 14 days off in total.
Why are there two observed Mondays in 2027?+
Under the Public Holidays Act, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday the following Monday is also a public holiday. In 2027 two holidays land on a Sunday: Human Rights Day (Mar 21), giving Monday Mar 22, and Day of Goodwill (Dec 26), giving Monday Dec 27.
Is December 27, 2027 a public holiday in South Africa?+
Yes. Day of Goodwill (Dec 26) falls on a Sunday in 2027, so Monday Dec 27 is automatically a public holiday under the Act. Some published lists — including the government's own page at the time of writing — omit this Monday, but the Sunday-to-Monday substitution is mandated by law.
Is there a substitute day when a holiday falls on a Saturday?+
No. The Public Holidays Act only moves a holiday to the following Monday when it falls on a Sunday. In 2027 Workers' Day (May 1) and Christmas Day (Dec 25) both fall on a Saturday, and neither gets a substitute weekday.
What are the long weekends in South Africa in 2027?+
Three-day weekends come from New Year's Day (Friday Jan 1), the Human Rights Day substitute (Monday Mar 22), National Women's Day (Monday Aug 9), Heritage Day (Friday Sep 24) and the Day of Goodwill substitute (Monday Dec 27). Easter — Good Friday Mar 26 through Family Day Mar 29 — is the longest break at four days.
