South Africa Public Holidays 2028
South Africa has 13 public holiday dates in 2028.
Last updated: 8 November 2026
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Sat 1 Jan | New Year's Day |
| Tue 21 Mar | Human Rights Day |
| Fri 14 Apr | Good Friday |
| Mon 17 Apr | Family Day |
| Thu 27 Apr | Freedom Day |
| Mon 1 May | Workers' Day |
| Fri 16 Jun | Youth Day |
| Wed 9 Aug | National Women's Day |
| Sun 24 Sep | Heritage Day |
| Mon 25 Sep | Heritage Day (observed) |
| Sat 16 Dec | Day of Reconciliation |
| Mon 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
| Tue 26 Dec | Day of Goodwill |
2028 holiday calendar — South Africa
- Public holiday
- Suggested day off
- Weekend
Tap a coloured date to see the holiday.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Long weekends and best days to take off in South Africa in 2028
Best use of leave in 2028: take Fri 28 Apr off around Freedom Day for 5 days off in a row (Thu 27 Apr – Mon 1 May).
| Break | Dates | Take leave on | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day leave → 4 days off best value | Sat 18 – Tue 21 Mar | Mon 20 Mar | Human Rights Day |
| 4 days leave → 10 days off | Sat 8 – Mon 17 Apr | Mon 10 – Thu 13 Apr | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 4 days off | Fri 14 – Mon 17 Apr | No leave needed | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 4 days leave → 10 days off | Sat 22 Apr – Mon 1 May | Mon 24 – Wed 26 Apr + Fri 28 Apr | Freedom Day, Workers' Day |
| 1 day leave → 5 days off best value | Thu 27 Apr – Mon 1 May | Fri 28 Apr | Freedom Day, Workers' Day |
| 3 days off | Sat 29 Apr – Mon 1 May | No leave needed | Workers' Day |
| 3 days off | Fri 16 – Sun 18 Jun | No leave needed | Youth Day |
| 2 days leave → 5 days off | Sat 5 – Wed 9 Aug | Mon 7 – Tue 8 Aug | National Women's Day |
| 3 days off | Sat 23 – Mon 25 Sep | No leave needed | Heritage Day, Heritage Day (observed) |
| 4 days off | Sat 23 – Tue 26 Dec | No leave needed | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill |
| 3 days leave → 9 days off best value | Sat 23 – Sun 31 Dec | Wed 27 – Fri 29 Dec | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill |
Calculated from the national holidays above with a Saturday–Sunday weekend. Company rules, shift work and regional holidays can change the result.
South Africa holidays in 2028 at a glance
South Africa has 13 public holiday dates in 2028, from Sat 1 Jan to Tue 26 Dec. 3 of them fall on a Saturday or Sunday, so the substitute rules matter.
Compare with South Africa public holidays 2027, which are checked against the official list, or browse all countries for 2028.
Frequently asked questions
- How many public holidays does South Africa have in 2028?
- 13 dates are listed on this page.
- Are the 2028 dates official?
- Yes — they follow fixed rules in the holiday law; substitute days are included.
- Are regional holidays included?
- No. Only holidays that apply nationwide are listed.
Sources: South African Government – Public holidays · python-holidays – open holiday rules