South Africa Public Holidays Calendar: School, Act 36 & JSE
South Africa Holiday Calendars
Welcome to the official South Africa scheduling hub. Select an option below to access Public Holidays Act statutory dates, Monday Sunday-shift leaves, cultural commemorations, DBE 4-term school holiday schedules, and JSE stock exchange market trading closures.
The 12 statutory public holidays under Act No. 36 of 1994, including Freedom Day, Youth Day, Heritage Day, and automatic Monday substitute leaves.
National cultural celebrations (Braai Day, Tweede Nuwe Jaar / Kaapse Klopse), multi-faith observances, and presidential ad-hoc public holidays.
Department of Basic Education (DBE) 4-term academic calendars, autumn/spring breaks, mid-year winter vacation, and summer holiday windows.
Official trading holiday schedule for the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and South African Reserve Bank (SARB) clearing closures.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How does the "Sunday Rule" work for public holidays in South Africa?
Under Section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act (Act No. 36 of 1994), whenever any statutory public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday automatically becomes an official paid public holiday in lieu. However, if a public holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on that Saturday without an automatic weekday roll-over.
Q2: Can the President declare extra ad-hoc public holidays in South Africa?
Yes. Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act empowers the President of South Africa to declare any specific day as an official public holiday across the Republic by proclamation in the Government Gazette (often utilized for general election days or special national celebrations).
Q3: Does the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) close on all public holidays?
Yes. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) halts all equities, equity derivatives, bond, and currency market trading on all 12 gazetted statutory public holidays, as well as on any official Monday substitute holidays resulting from Sunday overlaps.
Q4: How is the academic school year structured in South Africa by the DBE?
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) structures public schooling into a four-term academic year running from mid-January to early December. Schools observe short holidays at the end of Term 1 (March/April) and Term 3 (September/October), a three-week winter vacation (June/July), and a four-to-five-week summer vacation over December and January.