South Africa Public Holidays in 2016
South Africa has a total of 44 holidays in 2016. 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 |
Friday, January 1, 2016 | 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 |
Saturday, January 2, 2016 | Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa |
| Armed Forces Day |
Sunday, February 21, 2016 | Armed Forces Day is a observance in South Africa |
| Maha Shivaratri |
Monday, March 7, 2016 | Maha Shivratri is an annual festival dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. For devotees, is a day of reflection and meditation. |
| March Equinox |
Sunday, March 20, 2016 | March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg) |
| Human Rights Day |
Monday, March 21, 2016 | Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Holi |
Wednesday, March 23, 2016 | 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. |
| Good Friday |
Friday, March 25, 2016 | Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday. |
| Holy Saturday |
Saturday, March 26, 2016 | Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday. |
| Easter Sunday |
Sunday, March 27, 2016 | Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief. |
| Family Day |
Monday, March 28, 2016 | Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Freedom Day |
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 | Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Workers' Day |
Sunday, May 1, 2016 | 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, 2016 | Labor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world. |
| Isra and Mi'raj |
Thursday, May 5, 2016 | 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. |
| Mother's Day |
Sunday, May 8, 2016 | Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures. |
| Ramadan Start |
Monday, June 6, 2016 | Ramadan is a period of prayer, reflection and fasting for many Muslims worldwide. It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. |
| Youth Day |
Thursday, June 16, 2016 | Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Father's Day |
Sunday, June 19, 2016 | Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide. |
| June Solstice |
Monday, June 20, 2016 | June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg) |
| Lailat al-Qadr |
Saturday, July 2, 2016 | Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran). |
| Eid ul Fitr |
Wednesday, July 6, 2016 | 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. |
| Nelson Mandela Day |
Monday, July 18, 2016 | Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa |
| Election Day |
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 | Election Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Municipal Elections |
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 | Municipal Elections is a public holiday in South Africa |
| National Women's Day |
Tuesday, August 9, 2016 | National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Raksha Bandhan |
Thursday, August 18, 2016 | 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 |
Thursday, August 25, 2016 | 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. |
| Ganesh Chaturthi |
Monday, September 5, 2016 | 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. |
| Eid al-Adha |
Tuesday, September 13, 2016 | 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. |
| September Equinox |
Thursday, September 22, 2016 | September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg) |
| Heritage Day |
Saturday, September 24, 2016 | Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa |
| Navaratri |
Saturday, October 1, 2016 | Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa |
| Muharram/Islamic New Year |
Monday, October 3, 2016 | Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning. |
| Dussehra |
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 | Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa |
| Diwali/Deepavali |
Sunday, October 30, 2016 | Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. |
| Milad un Nabi (Mawlid) |
Monday, December 12, 2016 | Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar. |
| Day of Reconciliation |
Friday, December 16, 2016 | Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa |
| December Solstice |
Wednesday, December 21, 2016 | December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg) |
| Christmas Eve |
Saturday, December 24, 2016 | Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar. |
| Christmas Day |
Sunday, December 25, 2016 | 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, 2016 | Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar. |
| Day of Goodwill |
Tuesday, December 27, 2016 | Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa |
| New Year's Eve |
Saturday, December 31, 2016 | New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar. |
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| Worldwide 2025 Holidays By Months |
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