South Africa has a total of 43 holidays in 2021. 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, 2021 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.
Armed Forces Day
Sunday, February 21, 2021 Armed Forces Day is a observance in South Africa
Maha Shivaratri
Thursday, March 11, 2021 Maha Shivratri is an annual festival dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. For devotees, is a day of reflection and meditation.
Isra and Mi'raj
Thursday, March 11, 2021 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.
March Equinox
Saturday, March 20, 2021 March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Human Rights Day
Sunday, March 21, 2021 Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Day off for Human Rights Day
Monday, March 22, 2021 Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Holi
Monday, March 29, 2021 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, April 2, 2021 Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday.
Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 3, 2021 Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 4, 2021 Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Family Day
Monday, April 5, 2021 Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Ramadan Start
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Ramadan is a period of prayer, reflection and fasting for many Muslims worldwide. It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
Freedom Day
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Workers' Day
Saturday, May 1, 2021 Labor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world.
Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
Sunday, May 9, 2021 Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran).
Mother's Day
Sunday, May 9, 2021 Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures.
Eid ul Fitr
Friday, May 14, 2021 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.
Tweede Nuwe Jaar
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa
Youth Day
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Father's Day
Sunday, June 20, 2021 Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.
June Solstice
Monday, June 21, 2021 June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Nelson Mandela Day
Sunday, July 18, 2021 Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa
Eid al-Adha
Wednesday, July 21, 2021 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.
National Women's Day
Monday, August 9, 2021 National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Muharram/Islamic New Year
Tuesday, August 10, 2021 Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
Raksha Bandhan
Sunday, August 22, 2021 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 30, 2021 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
Friday, September 10, 2021 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
Wednesday, September 22, 2021 September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Heritage Day
Friday, September 24, 2021 Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Navaratri
Thursday, October 7, 2021 Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Dussehra
Friday, October 15, 2021 Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Milad un Nabi (Mawlid)
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.
Local Government Elections
Monday, November 1, 2021 Local Government Elections is a public holiday in South Africa
Diwali/Deepavali
Thursday, November 4, 2021 Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
Day of Reconciliation
Thursday, December 16, 2021 Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa
December Solstice
Tuesday, December 21, 2021 December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Christmas Eve
Friday, December 24, 2021 Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Day
Saturday, December 25, 2021 Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Goodwill
Sunday, December 26, 2021 Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa
Day of Goodwill observed
Monday, December 27, 2021 Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa
New Year's Eve
Friday, December 31, 2021 New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar.
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