South African public holidays 2027 - full list with dates
Every South African public holiday in 2027, including which holidays fall on a Sunday and move to the Monday, and which fall on a Saturday and do not move.
There are 14 public holiday dates in South Africa in 2027 once Sunday substitutions are counted. 2 of them exist because a holiday fell on a Sunday. The next one is New Year's Day on Friday Fri 1 Jan 2027.
Last reviewed 2026-10-13 · next scheduled review 2026-11-15 · official source
All public holidays in 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | Friday | New Year's Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Sun 21 Mar 2027 | Sunday | Human Rights Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Monday | Human Rights Day observed - Monday 22 March 2027 | Substitute (Sunday rule) |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Friday | Good Friday 2027 | Statutory |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Monday | Family Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Tue 27 Apr 2027 | Tuesday | Freedom Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Saturday | Workers' Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Wed 16 Jun 2027 | Wednesday | Youth Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Mon 9 Aug 2027 | Monday | National Women's Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Fri 24 Sep 2027 | Friday | Heritage Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Thu 16 Dec 2027 | Thursday | Day of Reconciliation 2027 | Statutory |
| Sat 25 Dec 2027 | Saturday | Christmas Day 2027 | Statutory |
| Sun 26 Dec 2027 | Sunday | Day of Goodwill 2027 | Statutory |
| Mon 27 Dec 2027 | Monday | Day of Goodwill observed - Monday 27 December 2027 | Substitute (Sunday rule) |
Special school holidays in 2027
These close public schools only. They are not public holidays: banks, government departments and most businesses are open.
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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.
Full detail for each holiday
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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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.
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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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