South Africa’s next public holiday brings a midweek break

South Africans lost a public holiday in August, but there is better news later this month.

National Women’s Day fell on a Saturday, 9 August, which meant no extra day off work. According to the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994), only holidays landing on a Sunday roll over to the following Monday. Holidays on Saturdays are treated as normal weekends.

That won’t be the case for the next holiday. Heritage Day falls on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, giving workers a midweek break.

Why Heritage Day matters

Heritage Day, often referred to as Braai Day, encourages South Africans to celebrate their culture, traditions, and shared diversity. Across the country, communities host cultural events, while many families mark the day with a braai.

The holiday highlights the idea of a nation that belongs to all its people, regardless of background.

Long weekends in 2025

South Africa has 12 public holidays in 2025, in line with the global average of 11. Workers in European countries typically enjoy 10–14, while the UK has only 8. At the opposite extreme, Myanmar has 30.

This year includes five long weekends. Four have already passed, but one remains. Christmas Day (Thursday, 25 December) and Day of Goodwill (Friday, 26 December) create a four-day long weekend at the end of the year.

Public holidays in 2025

• 1 January: New Year’s Day (Wednesday)

• 21 March: Human Rights Day (Friday)

• 18 April: Good Friday (Friday)

• 21 April: Family Day (Monday)

• 27 April: Freedom Day (Sunday)

• 28 April: Freedom Day observed (Monday)

• 1 May: Workers’ Day (Thursday)

• 16 June: Youth Day (Monday)

• 9 August: National Women’s Day (Saturday, lost)

• 24 September: Heritage Day (Wednesday)

• 16 December: Day of Reconciliation (Tuesday)

• 25 December: Christmas Day (Thursday)

• 26 December: Day of Goodwill (Friday)

With Heritage Day around the corner and one more long weekend still to come, South Africans have two more opportunities to rest before 2025 winds down.

{Source: TheSouthAfrican}

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