South African important dates and deadlines in 2027
Every South African deadline Find SA Status tracks for 2027 - school terms, public holidays, tax dates, grant payments, exams, elections and licensing - grouped by month with official sources.
55 dated records for 2027, of which 55 are still current. Each one shows the official source, the date we last verified it and the date we will check it again.
Last reviewed 2026-10-13 · next scheduled review 2026-10-14
January 2027
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedCIPC annual returns - due on the anniversary of incorporation
Every company and close corporation registered with the CIPC must file an annual return within 30 business days of the anniversary of its incorporation date. The return is filed on the CIPC e-services portal. Filing late moves the company to 'annual return outstanding' status, and continued non-compliance leads to deregistration. Directors are personally affected because a deregistered company cannot trade, open a bank account or hold a contract.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedCIPC beneficial ownership filing - filed with the annual return
Since 2023, companies must file a beneficial ownership declaration alongside their annual return. The declaration identifies the natural persons who ultimately own or control the company. Companies that file an annual return without the beneficial ownership declaration have the return rejected.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedUIF monthly declaration and payment - by the 7th of the following month
Employers must declare their employees to the Unemployment Insurance Fund and pay contributions monthly. The UIF contribution is 2% of earnings - 1% from the employer and 1% from the employee - on earnings up to the published monthly ceiling. Declarations are submitted through uFiling, and the payment deadline aligns with the EMP201 deadline of the 7th of the following month.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedB-BBEE sworn affidavit - annual renewal for EMEs and QSEs
An Exempted Micro-Enterprise with an annual turnover below R10 million can claim a B-BBEE status level using a sworn affidavit rather than a verified certificate. The affidavit must be signed before a Commissioner of Oaths and is valid for twelve months from the date of signing. Businesses that let an affidavit lapse lose their B-BBEE status for tendering purposes immediately, which is the single most common avoidable disqualification in South African public tenders.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedVAT Category A tax period ends - January, March, May, July, September, November
Vendors on the standard VAT Category A cycle have bi-monthly tax periods ending on the last day of January, March, May, July, September and November. A VAT201 return and payment are then due by the last business day of the following month, which gives Category A vendors roughly 30 days. Category B covers the alternate months. Most vendors with taxable supplies above R30 million are placed on the monthly Category C cycle.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedVoter registration is open year-round at IEC offices
You do not have to wait for a registration weekend. South African citizens aged 16 and older can register to vote at any IEC local office during office hours, and only need a green barcoded ID book, a smart ID card or a valid temporary identity certificate. Citizens aged 16 and 17 can register but may only vote once they turn 18.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedRecurring EMP201 PAYE/UIF/SDL deadline - 7th of each month
Employers must submit an EMP201 return and pay over employees' tax, UIF and SDL contributions by the 7th of the month following the month in which the remuneration was paid. When the 7th falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Late payment attracts a 10% penalty plus interest.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedRecurring VAT201 return and payment deadline - bi-monthly and monthly vendors
Vendors on the standard bi-monthly cycle must submit a VAT201 return and pay the VAT due by the last business day of the month following the end of the tax period. Vendors with taxable supplies above R30 million are placed on the monthly cycle. Where the last day of the month falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline moves to the preceding business day. The standard VAT rate is 15%.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedVehicle licence renewal - 21-day grace period after expiry
South African vehicle licence discs are valid for twelve months from the date of issue or from the expiry date of the previous disc where renewed within the renewal window. The issuing authority sends an MVL2 renewal notice by post or email roughly six to eight weeks before expiry. A 21-day grace period applies after the expiry date, after which the licence is overdue and penalties accumulate by month for the period the vehicle was unlicensed.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedVehicle licence renewal window opens - 2 months before expiry
You can renew a vehicle licence disc up to two months before the expiry date without losing any part of the twelve-month period. Renewing early is usually cheaper and faster because it avoids the penalty calculation and avoids the queues that build in the last week of every month at busy registering authorities.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedDriver's licence card collection - 120 days to collect after approval
Once a driving licence card is produced, the licence holder is required to collect it within 120 days of the card being issued to the driving licence card account. Cards not collected within that period are destroyed. This is a frequent and expensive trap: many people assume the card is being held indefinitely and only discover it has been destroyed when they are asked to apply again and repay.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedTraffic fine payment window and discounted-payment option
Where a notice is issued for an infringement and paid within 32 days, some issuing authorities allow a reduced admission-of-guilt amount. After that window the full amount applies, and an unpaid fine is referred for a warrant or a summons. Early payment options differ between AARTO-operational areas and non-AARTO provinces, which is why a fine that offers a discount in Gauteng may not offer one in the Western Cape.
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To be announced
Confirmed Date not yet announcedCertificate of roadworthiness validity - 12 months
A certificate of roadworthiness is valid for twelve months from the date of issue. It is required when a vehicle changes ownership, when a vehicle is re-registered after a change of engine or chassis, and for certain classes of vehicle on a recurring basis. A roadworthy certificate is issued by an accredited testing station, not by the licensing department itself.
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Fri 1 Jan 2027
Confirmed In 78 daysNew Year's Day 2027
New Year's Day 2027 falls on a Friday, creating a long weekend at the end of the December school holidays. Government offices, banks and most businesses are closed.
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To be announced
Tentative Date not yet announcedLate school admission applications for the 2027 school year
School admission for public schools in South Africa is managed by provincial education departments, not nationally. Each province runs its own online admission window, and the dates differ: Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and others publish separate application periods, usually closing between May and August of the preceding year. Parents who missed their province's window should contact the district office directly, because late placement is still possible where places exist.
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To be announced
Tentative Date not yet announced2026 NSC results release date
The Department of Basic Education had not announced a release date for the 2026 National Senior Certificate results at the time this record was last verified. For the class of 2025, the Minister announced the national results on 12 January 2026 and candidates could access their own results online from 06:00 on 13 January 2026. Candidates should treat mid-January 2027 as the expected window but must confirm the actual date on the DBE website or their school.
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To be announced
Tentative Date not yet announcedRe-mark and re-check applications for the 2026 NSC - expected window
Re-mark and re-check applications for the 2026 NSC results are administered by provincial education departments, not by the DBE nationally, and each province sets its own window and fee. The Western Cape Education Department has published its window as 12 to 25 January 2027 with no late applications accepted. Candidates in other provinces must confirm their own provincial window, because there is no single national closing date.
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To be announced
Tentative Date not yet announcedSASSA Older Persons Grant payment - January 2027
SASSA has not yet published the January 2027 payment dates at the time this record was last verified. SASSA normally publishes each month's schedule in a media release a few weeks ahead. The January cycle is the first to reflect any April-announced increase, though increases usually take effect in April rather than January, so the January 2027 amounts are expected to match the 2026 amounts until the Budget.
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Tue 5 Jan 2027
Confirmed In 82 daysSASSA Older Persons Grant payment - January 2027
The Older Persons Grant and War Veterans Grant are paid on Tuesday 5 January 2027. Payments reflect in beneficiary bank accounts, Postbank Black Cards, and retail pay points (Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Boxer).
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Wed 6 Jan 2027
Confirmed In 83 daysSASSA Disability and Care Dependency Grant payment - January 2027
Disability Grants and Care Dependency Grants are disbursed on Wednesday 6 January 2027. Beneficiaries are reminded that there is no need to withdraw cash on day one; funds remain safe in your bank account.
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Thu 7 Jan 2027
Confirmed In 84 daysSASSA Child Support and other grants payment - January 2027
Child Support Grants, Foster Child Grants and Grant-in-Aid are disbursed on Thursday 7 January 2027. The Child Support Grant is R580 per child per month.
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13 Jan – 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed In 155 days2027 school Term 1 (public schools)
Term 1 of the 2027 public school year opens on Wednesday 13 January and closes on Friday 19 March. Educators report on Monday 11 January. The term runs 10 weeks and provides 48 school days with no public holidays in term time.
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Fri 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed In 99 daysSARS deadline: provisional tax returns for the 2026 year of assessment close
Provisional taxpayers and trusts must submit their income tax returns for the 2026 year of assessment by Friday 22 January 2027. This later deadline exists because provisional taxpayers' third-party data arrives later, not because there is more time to prepare.
February 2027
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Tue 2 Feb 2027
Confirmed In 110 daysSASSA Older Persons Grant payment - February 2027
Older Persons Grant and War Veterans Grant for February 2027 are scheduled for Tuesday 2 February 2027.
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Wed 3 Feb 2027
Confirmed In 111 daysSASSA Disability Grant payment - February 2027
Disability Grants and Care Dependency Grants for February 2027 are scheduled for Wednesday 3 February 2027.
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Thu 4 Feb 2027
Confirmed In 112 daysSASSA Child Support Grant payment - February 2027
Child Support Grants, Foster Child Grants and Grant-in-Aid for February 2027 are scheduled for Thursday 4 February 2027.
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Fri 26 Feb 2027
Confirmed In 134 daysProvisional tax (IRP6) - second payment for the 2027 year of assessment
The second provisional tax payment for taxpayers with a February year-end is due on 26 February 2027. At this point the taxpayer must have a reasonable estimate of taxable income for the full year, because underestimation penalties are calculated against this return.
March 2027
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Tue 2 Mar 2027
Confirmed In 138 daysSASSA Older Persons Grant payment - March 2027
Older Persons Grant and War Veterans Grant for March 2027 are scheduled for Tuesday 2 March 2027.
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Wed 3 Mar 2027
Confirmed In 139 daysSASSA Disability Grant payment - March 2027
Disability Grants and Care Dependency Grants for March 2027 are scheduled for Wednesday 3 March 2027.
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Thu 4 Mar 2027
Confirmed In 140 daysSASSA Child Support Grant payment - March 2027
Child Support Grants, Foster Child Grants and Grant-in-Aid for March 2027 are scheduled for Thursday 4 March 2027.
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20 Mar – 5 Apr 2027
Confirmed In 172 days2027 autumn school holiday
The 2027 autumn break is 17 days long, from Saturday 20 March to Monday 5 April. It contains three public-holiday events in quick succession: the observed Human Rights Day on 22 March, Good Friday on 26 March and Family Day on 29 March. Learners return on Tuesday 6 April.
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Sun 21 Mar 2027
Confirmed In 157 daysHuman Rights Day 2027
Human Rights Day 2027 falls on a Sunday. Under section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act the public holiday moves to Monday 22 March 2027, so the official day off is the Monday.
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Mon 22 Mar 2027
Confirmed In 158 daysHuman Rights Day observed - Monday 22 March 2027
Monday 22 March 2027 is a public holiday because Human Rights Day falls on Sunday 21 March. It falls in the autumn school break, so it does not reduce the number of school days in Term 2.
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Fri 26 Mar 2027
Confirmed In 162 daysGood Friday 2027
Good Friday 2027 falls on 26 March, in the middle of the autumn school holidays. It combines with Human Rights Day on Monday 22 March and Family Day on Monday 29 March to create an unusually generous late-March break.
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Mon 29 Mar 2027
Confirmed In 165 daysFamily Day 2027
Family Day 2027 falls on Monday 29 March, the Monday after Easter Sunday. With Human Rights Day observed on Monday 22 March, 2027 gives two consecutive long weekends in March.
April 2027
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6 Apr – 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed In 253 days2027 school Term 2 (public schools)
Term 2 of 2027 is the longest term at 12 weeks, running from Tuesday 6 April to Friday 25 June. It contains the special school holiday on 26 April, Freedom Day, Workers' Day and Youth Day, which reduce the scheduled 59 days to 56 actual school days.
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Mon 26 Apr 2027
Confirmed In 193 daysSpecial school holiday 2027 - Monday 26 April
The Department of Basic Education declared Monday 26 April 2027 a special school holiday, immediately before Freedom Day on Tuesday 27 April. Public schools are closed on both days, but this is not a public holiday: government departments, banks and private businesses that only follow the Public Holidays Act are open on 26 April.
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Mon 26 Apr 2027
Confirmed In 193 daysSpecial school holiday - Monday 26 April 2027
Monday 26 April 2027 is a special school holiday, declared so that the Freedom Day long weekend runs from Saturday 24 to Tuesday 27 April. Public schools are closed but it is not a public holiday, so government offices and most businesses are open.
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Tue 27 Apr 2027
Confirmed In 194 daysFreedom Day 2027
Freedom Day 2027 falls on a Tuesday. Combined with the special school holiday on Monday 26 April, learners get a four-day break, but only 27 April is a public holiday for employers in general.
May 2027
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Sat 1 May 2027
Confirmed In 198 daysWorkers' Day 2027
Workers' Day 2027 falls on a Saturday. Because the Public Holidays Act only substitutes Sunday holidays, there is no public holiday on Monday 3 May 2027 and it is a normal working day.
June 2027
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Wed 16 Jun 2027
Confirmed In 244 daysYouth Day 2027
Youth Day 2027 falls on a Wednesday, in the middle of school Term 2. The Department of Basic Education's 2027 calendar counts it as one of three public holidays that reduce teaching time in Term 2.
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26 Jun – 19 Jul 2027
Confirmed In 277 days2027 winter school holiday
The 2027 winter break runs 24 days from Saturday 26 June to Monday 19 July. Schools reopen for Term 3 on Tuesday 20 July.
July 2027
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20 Jul – 22 Sep 2027
Confirmed In 342 days2027 school Term 3 (public schools)
Term 3 of 2027 runs for 10 weeks from Tuesday 20 July to Wednesday 22 September, providing 47 days. National Women's Day on Monday 9 August is the only public holiday in this term, giving 46 actual school days.
August 2027
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Mon 9 Aug 2027
Confirmed In 298 daysNational Women's Day 2027
National Women's Day 2027 falls on a Monday, creating a natural long weekend and one public holiday inside school Term 3. No substitute day applies because the date does not fall on a Sunday.
September 2027
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Sat 19 Sep 2026 – Fri 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed In 99 daysSARS deadline: trust income tax returns (ITR12T) for the 2026 year of assessment
Trusts could submit their ITR12T returns for the 2026 year of assessment from 19 September 2026 and must submit by 22 January 2027. Trustees should confirm the specific deadline for the trust's year-end with SARS or a registered tax practitioner, because not all trusts share the February year-end.
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23 Sep – 4 Oct 2027
Confirmed In 354 days2027 spring school holiday
The 2027 spring break runs 12 days from Thursday 23 September to Monday 4 October. Heritage Day falls on Friday 24 September, the second day of the break. Schools reopen on Tuesday 5 October.
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Fri 24 Sep 2027
Confirmed In 344 daysHeritage Day 2027
Heritage Day 2027 falls on a Friday, straight after schools close for the spring break on 22 September. It is the busiest travel weekend of the South African spring.
October 2027
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5 Oct – 8 Dec 2027
Confirmed In 419 days2027 school Term 4 (public schools)
The final term of 2027 runs 10 weeks from Tuesday 5 October to Wednesday 8 December for learners, with 47 school days. Educators close on Friday 10 December. Grade 12 candidates write the NSC examinations during this term.
November 2027
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Sun 1 Nov 2026 – Wed 31 Mar 2027
Tentative In 167 daysCOIDA Return of Earnings (W.As.8) submission window
Employers registered with the Compensation Fund must submit a Return of Earnings - the W.As.8 form - covering the twelve months to the end of February. The submission window historically runs from 1 November to 31 March, and the assessment determines the employer's annual assessment tariff payable to the Compensation Fund. Employers who miss the deadline face penalties and a possible estimated assessment.
December 2027
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Thu 10 Dec 2026 – Tue 12 Jan 2027
Confirmed In 89 days2026–2027 summer school holiday
Public schools are scheduled to close for the summer holiday on Thursday 10 December 2026, and learners are scheduled to return on Wednesday 13 January 2027. Educators report on 11 January 2027. This is the longest break of the school year at around five weeks.
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Thu 9 Dec 2027 – Tue 11 Jan 2028
Tentative In 453 days2027–2028 summer school holiday
Public schools close for the 2027 summer holiday on Thursday 9 December 2027. The 2028 school calendar had not been gazetted at the time this record was last verified, so the return date shown is the latest date consistent with the Department of Basic Education's convention of starting in the second week of January and must be confirmed once the 2028 gazette is published.
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Thu 16 Dec 2027
Confirmed In 427 daysDay of Reconciliation 2027
The Day of Reconciliation 2027 falls on a Thursday, during the December school holidays. Taking Friday 17 December as leave produces a four-day break.
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Sat 25 Dec 2027
Confirmed In 436 daysChristmas Day 2027
Christmas Day 2027 falls on a Saturday, followed by the Day of Goodwill on Sunday 26 December. The Sunday holiday moves to Monday 27 December, giving a three-day weekend for most employees.
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Sun 26 Dec 2027
Confirmed In 437 daysDay of Goodwill 2027
The Day of Goodwill 2027 falls on a Sunday, so Monday 27 December 2027 becomes the public holiday in its place under the Public Holidays Act.
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Mon 27 Dec 2027
Confirmed In 438 daysDay of Goodwill observed - Monday 27 December 2027
Monday 27 December 2027 is a public holiday in place of the Day of Goodwill, which falls on the Sunday. Christmas Day is the Saturday, so employees who normally work Monday to Friday get a three-day weekend.
Other years
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