South Africa has a total of 45 holidays in 2011. In the table below, you will find the details of the holidays and when they are observed. All the information display below is also available via our API as well as downloadable as a csv. Signup here to get started.

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Holiday Date Details
New Year's Day
Saturday, January 1, 2011 New Year’s Day is celebrated with a blend of both diversity and tradition in countries such as South Africa on January 1 each year.
Tweede Nuwe Jaar
Sunday, January 2, 2011 Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa
Milad un Nabi (Mawlid)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.
Maha Shivaratri
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 Maha Shivratri is an annual festival dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. For devotees, is a day of reflection and meditation.
Holi
Sunday, March 20, 2011 Holi is a spring festival of colors celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the upcoming season of spring. The festival can last up to sixteen days.
March Equinox
Sunday, March 20, 2011 March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Human Rights Day
Monday, March 21, 2011 Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Good Friday
Friday, April 22, 2011 Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday.
Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 23, 2011 Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 24, 2011 Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Family Day
Monday, April 25, 2011 Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa
School holiday
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 School holiday is a observance in South Africa
Freedom Day
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Workers' Day
Sunday, May 1, 2011 Labor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world.
Day off for Workers' Day
Monday, May 2, 2011 Labor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world.
Mother's Day
Sunday, May 8, 2011 Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures.
Election Day
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 Election Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Youth Day
Thursday, June 16, 2011 Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
School holiday
Friday, June 17, 2011 School holiday is a observance in South Africa
Father's Day
Sunday, June 19, 2011 Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.
June Solstice
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Isra and Mi'raj
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 Isra and Mi'raj (Isra Me'raj, Israa and Mi'raaj, Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj, Lailat al Miraj, Night Journey and Ascension to Heaven) marks the night that the Prophet Mohammad traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven and returned.
Nelson Mandela Day
Monday, July 18, 2011 Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa
School holiday
Monday, August 8, 2011 School holiday is a observance in South Africa
National Women's Day
Tuesday, August 9, 2011 National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Raksha Bandhan
Saturday, August 13, 2011 Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana (Shravan Poornima). The day is also sometimes referred to as Brother and Sister Day because it honors the relationship between brother and sister.
Janmashtami
Monday, August 22, 2011 Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrava (Bhadrapada), which is usually in August or September.
Lailat al-Qadr
Friday, August 26, 2011 Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran).
Eid ul Fitr
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 Eid al-Fitr is a holiday to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during the hours of daylight.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Thursday, September 1, 2011 Ganesh Chaturthi is the great Ganesha festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha during the Hindu Month of Bhadra, which usually falls between mid-August and mid-September. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and can last up to 10 days.
September Equinox
Friday, September 23, 2011 September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Heritage Day
Saturday, September 24, 2011 Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Navaratri
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Dussehra
Thursday, October 6, 2011 Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Diwali/Deepavali
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
Eid al-Adha
Monday, November 7, 2011 Eid al-Adha (Id ul-Adha) is an Islamic festival falling on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja (Thou al-Hijja) to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son.
Muharram/Islamic New Year
Sunday, November 27, 2011 Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
Day of Reconciliation
Friday, December 16, 2011 Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa
December Solstice
Thursday, December 22, 2011 December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Christmas Eve
Saturday, December 24, 2011 Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25, 2011 Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
Day off for Christmas Day
Monday, December 26, 2011 Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Goodwill
Monday, December 26, 2011 Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa
Public Holiday
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 Public Holiday is a public holiday in South Africa
New Year's Eve
Saturday, December 31, 2011 New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar.
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