South Africa has a total of 43 holidays in 2023. 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
Sunday, January 1, 2023 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.
Day off for New Year's Day
Monday, January 2, 2023 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
Monday, January 2, 2023 Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa
Maha Shivaratri
Saturday, February 18, 2023 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
Saturday, February 18, 2023 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.
Armed Forces Day
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 Armed Forces Day is a observance in South Africa
Holi
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 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
Monday, March 20, 2023 March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Human Rights Day
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Ramadan Start
Friday, March 24, 2023 Ramadan is a period of prayer, reflection and fasting for many Muslims worldwide. It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
Good Friday
Friday, April 7, 2023 Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday.
Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 8, 2023 Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 9, 2023 Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Family Day
Monday, April 10, 2023 Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
Monday, April 17, 2023 Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran).
Eid ul Fitr
Saturday, April 22, 2023 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.
Freedom Day
Thursday, April 27, 2023 Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Workers' Day
Monday, May 1, 2023 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 14, 2023 Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures.
Youth Day
Friday, June 16, 2023 Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Father's Day
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.
June Solstice
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Eid al-Adha
Thursday, June 29, 2023 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.
Nelson Mandela Day
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa
Muharram/Islamic New Year
Thursday, July 20, 2023 Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
National Women's Day
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Raksha Bandhan
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 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, September 7, 2023 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 18, 2023 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
Saturday, September 23, 2023 September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Heritage Day
Sunday, September 24, 2023 Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Day off for Heritage Day
Monday, September 25, 2023 Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Milad un Nabi (Mawlid)
Thursday, September 28, 2023 Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.
Navaratri
Sunday, October 15, 2023 Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Dussehra
Monday, October 23, 2023 Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Diwali/Deepavali
Sunday, November 12, 2023 Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
Rugby World Cup Win Public Holiday
Friday, December 15, 2023 Rugby World Cup Win Public Holiday is a public holiday in South Africa
Day of Reconciliation
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa
December Solstice
Friday, December 22, 2023 December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Christmas Eve
Sunday, December 24, 2023 Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Day
Monday, December 25, 2023 Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Goodwill
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa
New Year's Eve
Sunday, December 31, 2023 New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar.
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Worldwide 2024 Holidays By Months
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February 2024
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