South Africa Public Holidays 2031
South Africa has 13 public holiday dates in 2031.
Last updated: 8 November 2026
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Wed 1 Jan | New Year's Day |
| Fri 21 Mar | Human Rights Day |
| Fri 11 Apr | Good Friday |
| Mon 14 Apr | Family Day |
| Sun 27 Apr | Freedom Day |
| Mon 28 Apr | Freedom Day (observed) |
| Thu 1 May | Workers' Day |
| Mon 16 Jun | Youth Day |
| Sat 9 Aug | National Women's Day |
| Wed 24 Sep | Heritage Day |
| Tue 16 Dec | Day of Reconciliation |
| Thu 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
| Fri 26 Dec | Day of Goodwill |
2031 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 2031
Best use of leave in 2031: take Fri 2 May off around Workers' Day for 4 days off in a row (Thu 1 – Sun 4 May).
| Break | Dates | Take leave on | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 days leave → 5 days off | Sat 28 Dec – Wed 1 Jan | Mon 30 – Tue 31 Dec | New Year's Day |
| 3 days off | Fri 21 – Sun 23 Mar | No leave needed | Human Rights Day |
| 4 days leave → 10 days off | Sat 5 – Mon 14 Apr | Mon 7 – Thu 10 Apr | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 4 days off | Fri 11 – Mon 14 Apr | No leave needed | Good Friday, Family Day |
| 3 days off | Sat 26 – Mon 28 Apr | No leave needed | Freedom Day, Freedom Day (observed) |
| 3 days leave → 9 days off best value | Sat 26 Apr – Sun 4 May | Tue 29 – Wed 30 Apr + Fri 2 May | Freedom Day, Freedom Day (observed), Workers' Day |
| 1 day leave → 4 days off best value | Thu 1 – Sun 4 May | Fri 2 May | Workers' Day |
| 3 days off | Sat 14 – Mon 16 Jun | No leave needed | Youth Day |
| 2 days leave → 5 days off | Sat 20 – Wed 24 Sep | Mon 22 – Tue 23 Sep | Heritage Day |
| 1 day leave → 4 days off best value | Sat 13 – Tue 16 Dec | Mon 15 Dec | Day of Reconciliation |
| 3 days leave → 9 days off | Sat 20 – Sun 28 Dec | Mon 22 – Wed 24 Dec | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill |
| 4 days off | Thu 25 – Sun 28 Dec | No leave needed | 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 2031 at a glance
South Africa has 13 public holiday dates in 2031, from Wed 1 Jan to Fri 26 Dec. 2 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 2031.
Frequently asked questions
- How many public holidays does South Africa have in 2031?
- 13 dates are listed on this page.
- Are the 2031 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