It’s official: South Africa gets an extra public holiday in November

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared 4 November 2026 a public holiday to allow South Africans to vote in the local government elections.

The declaration, made under the Public Holidays Act, formally completes the legal process for the election day to be recognised as a nationwide public holiday.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa proclaimed the election date in August after Ramaphosa announced it earlier this year.

🗳️#LGE2026

Election Day – 4 November 2026 – has been declared a public holiday

*Special votes can be cast on 2 and 3 November 2026 pic.twitter.com/s5W1Bn7kaD

PMG (@PMG_SA) September 8, 2026

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) had previously confirmed that election day would be a public holiday, partly to limit disruption to matric examinations.

Many schools are used as voting stations, raising concerns that the election could interfere with the final examinations.

However, the IEC told Parliament that consultations with the Department of Basic Education had resulted in arrangements aimed at minimising disruption to matriculants.

The election date was chosen to avoid the festive season, support voter participation and reduce the impact on the school calendar.

South Africans will therefore head to the polls on Wednesday, 4 November, with the day set aside as a public holiday nationwide.

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Source: African Insider