South Africa has a total of 42 holidays in 2024. 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
Monday, January 1, 2024 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
Tuesday, January 2, 2024 Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa
Isra and Mi'raj
Thursday, February 8, 2024 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
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 Armed Forces Day is a observance in South Africa
Maha Shivaratri
Friday, March 8, 2024 Maha Shivratri is an annual festival dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. For devotees, is a day of reflection and meditation.
Ramadan Start
Monday, March 11, 2024 Ramadan is a period of prayer, reflection and fasting for many Muslims worldwide. It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
March Equinox
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Human Rights Day
Thursday, March 21, 2024 Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Holi
Monday, March 25, 2024 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 29, 2024 Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday.
Holy Saturday
Saturday, March 30, 2024 Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, March 31, 2024 Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Family Day
Monday, April 1, 2024 Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
Friday, April 5, 2024 Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran).
Eid ul Fitr
Thursday, April 11, 2024 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
Saturday, April 27, 2024 Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Workers' Day
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 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 12, 2024 Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures.
Election Day
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 Election Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Father's Day
Sunday, June 16, 2024 Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.
Youth Day
Sunday, June 16, 2024 Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Eid al-Adha
Monday, June 17, 2024 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.
Day off for Youth Day
Monday, June 17, 2024 Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
June Solstice
Thursday, June 20, 2024 June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Muharram/Islamic New Year
Monday, July 8, 2024 Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
Nelson Mandela Day
Thursday, July 18, 2024 Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa
National Women's Day
Friday, August 9, 2024 National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Raksha Bandhan
Monday, August 19, 2024 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 26, 2024 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 6, 2024 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.
Milad un Nabi (Mawlid)
Monday, September 16, 2024 Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.
September Equinox
Sunday, September 22, 2024 September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Heritage Day
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Navaratri
Thursday, October 3, 2024 Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Dussehra
Saturday, October 12, 2024 Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Diwali/Deepavali
Thursday, October 31, 2024 Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
Day of Reconciliation
Monday, December 16, 2024 Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa
December Solstice
Saturday, December 21, 2024 December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Christmas Eve
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Goodwill
Thursday, December 26, 2024 Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa
New Year's Eve
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 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
January 2024
February 2024
March 2024
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