South Africa has a total of 42 holidays in 2017. In the table below, you will find the details of the holidays and when they are observed. All the information display below is also available via our API as well as downloadable as a csv. Signup here to get started.

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Holiday Date Details
New Year's Day
Sunday, January 1, 2017 New Year’s Day is celebrated with a blend of both diversity and tradition in countries such as South Africa on January 1 each year.
Day off for New Year's Day
Monday, January 2, 2017 New Year’s Day is celebrated with a blend of both diversity and tradition in countries such as South Africa on January 1 each year.
Tweede Nuwe Jaar
Monday, January 2, 2017 Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa
Armed Forces Day
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Armed Forces Day is a observance in South Africa
Maha Shivaratri
Friday, February 24, 2017 Maha Shivratri is an annual festival dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. For devotees, is a day of reflection and meditation.
Holi
Sunday, March 12, 2017 Holi is a spring festival of colors celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the upcoming season of spring. The festival can last up to sixteen days.
March Equinox
Monday, March 20, 2017 March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Human Rights Day
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Good Friday
Friday, April 14, 2017 Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday.
Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 15, 2017 Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 16, 2017 Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Family Day
Monday, April 17, 2017 Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Isra and Mi'raj
Monday, April 24, 2017 Isra and Mi'raj (Isra Me'raj, Israa and Mi'raaj, Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj, Lailat al Miraj, Night Journey and Ascension to Heaven) marks the night that the Prophet Mohammad traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven and returned.
Freedom Day
Thursday, April 27, 2017 Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Workers' Day
Monday, May 1, 2017 Labor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world.
Mother's Day
Sunday, May 14, 2017 Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures.
Ramadan Start
Saturday, May 27, 2017 Ramadan is a period of prayer, reflection and fasting for many Muslims worldwide. It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
Youth Day
Friday, June 16, 2017 Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Father's Day
Sunday, June 18, 2017 Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.
Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran).
June Solstice
Wednesday, June 21, 2017 June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Eid ul Fitr
Monday, June 26, 2017 Eid al-Fitr is a holiday to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during the hours of daylight.
Nelson Mandela Day
Tuesday, July 18, 2017 Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa
Raksha Bandhan
Monday, August 7, 2017 Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana (Shravan Poornima). The day is also sometimes referred to as Brother and Sister Day because it honors the relationship between brother and sister.
National Women's Day
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Janmashtami
Monday, August 14, 2017 Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrava (Bhadrapada), which is usually in August or September.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Friday, August 25, 2017 Ganesh Chaturthi is the great Ganesha festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha during the Hindu Month of Bhadra, which usually falls between mid-August and mid-September. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and can last up to 10 days.
Eid al-Adha
Saturday, September 2, 2017 Eid al-Adha (Id ul-Adha) is an Islamic festival falling on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja (Thou al-Hijja) to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son.
Navaratri
Wednesday, September 20, 2017 Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Muharram/Islamic New Year
Friday, September 22, 2017 Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
September Equinox
Friday, September 22, 2017 September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Heritage Day
Sunday, September 24, 2017 Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Day off for Heritage Day
Monday, September 25, 2017 Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Dussehra
Saturday, September 30, 2017 Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Diwali/Deepavali
Thursday, October 19, 2017 Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
Milad un Nabi (Mawlid)
Friday, December 1, 2017 Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Reconciliation
Saturday, December 16, 2017 Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa
December Solstice
Thursday, December 21, 2017 December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Christmas Eve
Sunday, December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Day
Monday, December 25, 2017 Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Goodwill
Tuesday, December 26, 2017 Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa
New Year's Eve
Sunday, December 31, 2017 New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar.
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