For many South Africans who will be returning to work for the New Year, 2025 public holidays are already in the mind’s eye. But with some careful planning, one can take a month off by using only 13 of their annual leave days. This is a great and really exciting way of maximizing one’s off time and perfect to rejuvenate oneself-this is what Business Tech says.
South Africa’s public holidays
Interestingly in 2025, South Africa will have only twelve public holidays as compared to this year’s bumper harvest of thirteen. However, the dates for the holidays in 2025 are going to be friendlier in creating long weekends: this year, one could also add Freedom Day on Monday, April 28, and Women’s Day (August 9) falls on a Saturday so no extra.
Here’s a breakdown of the public holidays in 2025:
- January 1 (Wednesday): New Year’s Day – No leave needed
- March 21 (Friday): Human Rights Day – Long weekend
- April 18 (Friday): Good Friday – Long weekend
- April 21 (Monday): Family Day – Long weekend
- April 27 (Sunday): Freedom Day – Observed on April 28 (Monday)
- May 1 (Thursday): Workers’ Day – Yes, take leave
- June 16 (Monday): Youth Day – Long weekend
- August 9 (Saturday): National Women’s Day – No leave needed
- September 24 (Wednesday): Heritage Day – No leave needed
- December 16 (Tuesday): Day of Reconciliation – Yes, take leave
- December 25 (Thursday): Christmas Day – Long weekend
- December 26 (Friday): Day of Goodwill – Long weekend
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN 2025 Table
| DATE | DAY | HOLIDAY | LEAVE POTENTIAL |
| 1 January | Wednesday | New Year’s Day | Nil |
| 21 March | Friday | Human Rights Day | Long weekend |
| 18 April | Friday | Good Friday | Long weekend |
| 21 April | Monday | Family Day | Long weekend |
| 27 April | Sunday | Freedom Day | Observed on 28/04 |
| 1 May | Thursday | Workers’ Day | Yes |
| 16 June | Monday | Youth Day | Long weekend |
| 9 August | Saturday | National Women’s Day | Nil |
| 24 September | Wednesday | Heritage Day | Nil |
| 16 December | Tuesday | Day of Reconciliation | Yes |
| 25 December | Thursday | Christmas Day | Long weekend |
| 26 December | Friday | Day of Goodwill | Long weekend |
You could also cover the Easter holidays completely by December and take off extra vacation days. For instance, if your holiday leave is taken for the period Tuesday, April 22, to Friday, May 2, instead of seven days out of pocket, you can enjoy a break of 17 days. Something similar pertains to December, when, from Tuesday, 16, to Thursday, 25, you can get 13 days off with only six leave days.
That is 30 days’ worth of absence for 13 days of leave in total. Therefore, plan ahead to ensure that you are not left behind when others have filled their calendars!
