South Africa Public Holidays 2025
South Africa observes 13 national public holidays in 2025. The first falls on January 1, 2025 (New Year's Day) and the last on December 26, 2025 (Day of Goodwill). Around 2 coincide with the weekend, so plan long weekends around the rest.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1, 2025 | Wednesday | Public holiday |
| Human Rights Day | March 21, 2025 | Friday | Public holiday |
| Good Friday | April 18, 2025 | Friday | Public holiday |
| Family Day | April 21, 2025 | Monday | Public holiday |
| Freedom Day | April 27, 2025 | SundayWeekend | Public holiday |
| Public Holiday | April 28, 2025 | Monday | Public holiday |
| Workers' Day | May 1, 2025 | Thursday | Public holiday |
| Youth Day | June 16, 2025 | Monday | Public holiday |
| National Women's Day | August 9, 2025 | SaturdayWeekend | Public holiday |
| Heritage Day | September 24, 2025 | Wednesday | Public holiday |
| Day of Reconciliation | December 16, 2025 | Tuesday | Public holiday |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2025 | Thursday | Public holiday |
| Day of Goodwill | December 26, 2025 | Friday | Public holiday |
The busiest stretch is April (4 holidays), a good window to plan around if you rely on offices, banks or schools being open. Use the table below to see each 2025 holiday in South Africa, when it happens and which day of the week it lands on. Regional and local observances are excluded, so what you see are the holidays recognised across South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does South Africa have in 2025?
South Africa has 13 national public holidays in 2025. The first is New Year's Day on January 1, 2025 and the last is Day of Goodwill on December 26, 2025.
What is the first public holiday of 2025 in South Africa?
The first public holiday of 2025 is New Year's Day, which falls on January 1, 2025, a Wednesday.
When is New Year celebrated in South Africa in 2025?
In 2025, New Year's Day in South Africa is on January 1, 2025, a Wednesday.
Are regional holidays included for South Africa?
No. This calendar lists national public holidays only. State, provincial and regional holidays that apply to just part of South Africa are not included, which keeps the list consistent across countries.
Other years for South Africa
Planning further ahead or looking back? Compare the South Africa public holiday calendar across years: