South Africa has a total of 42 holidays in 2019. 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
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 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
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 Tweede Nuwe Jaar is a observance in South Africa
Armed Forces Day
Thursday, February 21, 2019 Armed Forces Day is a observance in South Africa
Maha Shivaratri
Monday, March 4, 2019 Maha Shivratri is an annual festival dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. For devotees, is a day of reflection and meditation.
March Equinox
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 March Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Holi
Thursday, March 21, 2019 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.
Human Rights Day
Thursday, March 21, 2019 Human Rights Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Isra and Mi'raj
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 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.
Good Friday
Friday, April 19, 2019 Good Friday is a global Christian observance two days before Easter Sunday.
Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 20, 2019 Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Family Day
Monday, April 22, 2019 Family Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Freedom Day
Saturday, April 27, 2019 Freedom Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Workers' Day
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 Labor Day, International Workers' Day, and May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world.
Ramadan Start
Monday, May 6, 2019 Ramadan is a period of prayer, reflection and fasting for many Muslims worldwide. It is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.
Election Day
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Election Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Mother's Day
Sunday, May 12, 2019 Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures.
Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
Friday, May 31, 2019 Laylat al-Qadr commmemorates the time when Mohammad received the first verses of the Koran (Qu'ran).
Eid ul Fitr
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 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.
Father's Day
Sunday, June 16, 2019 Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.
Youth Day
Sunday, June 16, 2019 Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Day off for Youth Day
Monday, June 17, 2019 Youth Day is a public holiday in South Africa
June Solstice
Friday, June 21, 2019 June Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Nelson Mandela Day
Thursday, July 18, 2019 Nelson Mandela Day is a observance in South Africa
National Women's Day
Friday, August 9, 2019 National Women's Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Eid al-Adha
Monday, August 12, 2019 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.
Raksha Bandhan
Thursday, August 15, 2019 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.
Janmashtami
Friday, August 23, 2019 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.
Muharram/Islamic New Year
Sunday, September 1, 2019 Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Monday, September 2, 2019 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.
September Equinox
Monday, September 23, 2019 September Equinox in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Heritage Day
Tuesday, September 24, 2019 Heritage Day is a public holiday in South Africa
Navaratri
Sunday, September 29, 2019 Navaratri is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Dussehra
Monday, October 7, 2019 Dussehra is a Hindu holiday in South Africa
Diwali/Deepavali
Sunday, October 27, 2019 Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals.
Milad un Nabi (Mawlid)
Sunday, November 10, 2019 Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Reconciliation
Monday, December 16, 2019 Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa
December Solstice
Sunday, December 22, 2019 December Solstice in South Africa (Johannesburg)
Christmas Eve
Tuesday, December 24, 2019 Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25, 2019 Christmas Day is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and falls on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar.
Day of Goodwill
Thursday, December 26, 2019 Day of Goodwill is a public holiday in South Africa
New Year's Eve
Tuesday, December 31, 2019 New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar.
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