Public holidays 2027
14 public holiday dates in 2027; two Sunday holidays each add a Monday public holiday (22 March, 27 December); two fall on a Saturday.
All 14 dates
| Date | Public holiday | Why this day | For public schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | Falls in the December–January holidays. | |
| Human Rights Day | 21 March | Falls in the March–April holidays (a Sunday; the Monday after it is a public holiday too). | |
| Public holiday for Human Rights Day | Human Rights Day falls on , which stays a public holiday; section 2(1) makes the Monday after it a public holiday as well | Falls in the March–April holidays. | |
| Good Friday | Friday before Easter Sunday | Falls in the March–April holidays. | |
| Family Day | Monday after Easter Sunday | Falls in the March–April holidays. | |
| Freedom Day | 27 April | Schools closed: a day off inside Term 2. | |
| Workers’ Day | 1 May | A Saturday: no school day lost and no day added. | |
| Youth Day | 16 June | Schools closed: a day off inside Term 2. | |
| National Women’s Day | 9 August | Schools closed: a day off inside Term 3. | |
| Heritage Day | 24 September | Falls in the September–October holidays. | |
| Day of Reconciliation | 16 December | Falls in the December–January holidays. | |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Falls in the December–January holidays (a Saturday). | |
| Day of Goodwill | 26 December | Falls in the December–January holidays (a Sunday; the Monday after it is a public holiday too). | |
| Public holiday for Day of Goodwill | Day of Goodwill falls on , which stays a public holiday; section 2(1) makes the Monday after it a public holiday as well | Falls in the December–January holidays. |
Taken from gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa; Government Gazette 52178, Notice 5902 of 25 February 2025: 2027 Calendar for public schools; Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools; Department of Basic Education: Published 2026 School Calendar; Department of Basic Education: Published 2027 School Calendar. Saved copies last read on .
What sets 2027 apart
- 10 of the 14 dates fall on a weekday (11 in 2026, 10 in 2028). Workers’ Day and Christmas Day fall on a Saturday, which adds no day off.
- Two Sunday holidays add a Monday public holiday in 2027: Monday 22 March 2027 after Human Rights Day (falls in the March–April holidays); Monday 27 December 2027 after Day of Goodwill (falls in the December–January holidays).
Add the 2027 public holidays to your calendar The calendar file uses the .ics format. Import it into a phone or computer calendar to add the dates.
Not on the gov.za list
The gov.za public holidays list for 2027 does not include Monday 27 December 2027. This site includes it: Government Gazette 52178 prints Monday 27 December 2027, and section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 requires it, because Day of Goodwill falls on Sunday 26 December 2027. Every other date on this page is on the gov.za list as well.
Long weekends 2027
Six runs of three or more days off in a row.
| Days off | Length | Public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 to Sun 3 Jan | 3 days | New Year’s Day |
| Sat 20 to Mon 22 Mar | 3 days | Human Rights Day, Public holiday for Human Rights Day |
| Fri 26 to Mon 29 Mar | 4 days | Good Friday, Family Day |
| Sat 7 to Mon 9 Aug | 3 days | National Women’s Day |
| Fri 24 to Sun 26 Sep | 3 days | Heritage Day |
| Sat 25 to Mon 27 Dec | 3 days | Christmas Day, Day of Goodwill, Public holiday for Day of Goodwill |
With one day of leave: Freedom Day on a Tuesday: take Mon 26 Apr off (public schools are closed that day: special school holiday) for Sat 24 to Tue 27 Apr (four days); Day of Reconciliation on a Thursday: take Fri 17 Dec off for Thu 16 to Sun 19 Dec (four days).
Taken from gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa; Government Gazette 52178, Notice 5902 of 25 February 2025: 2027 Calendar for public schools; Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools; Department of Basic Education: Published 2026 School Calendar; Department of Basic Education: Published 2027 School Calendar. Saved copies last read on .
A long weekend here means a public holiday on a Friday or Monday next to a weekend, or on a Tuesday or Thursday that gives a break of four days or more with one day of leave. These are counted from the dates.
The Sunday rule
Under section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, the Monday following a public holiday that falls on a Sunday is also a public holiday. A public holiday on a Saturday adds no extra day off.
Questions people ask
- How many public holidays fall on a weekday in 2027?
- 10 of the 14 dates fall on a weekday (Monday to Friday).
- Which public holidays fall on a Sunday in 2027?
- Human Rights Day (Sunday 21 March 2027), so Monday 22 March 2027 is a public holiday as well; Day of Goodwill (Sunday 26 December 2027), so Monday 27 December 2027 is a public holiday as well.
- Is the special school holiday on Monday 26 April 2027 a public holiday?
- No. The Gazette names it a special school holiday: public schools are closed that day, but it is not a public holiday for employers.
The Gazette notices and pages behind this page
- gov.za: Public holidays in South Africa (copy saved )
- Government Gazette 52178, Notice 5902 of 25 February 2025: 2027 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- Government Gazette 52177, Notice 5901 of 25 February 2025: 2026 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- Department of Basic Education: Published 2026 School Calendar (copy saved )
- Department of Basic Education: Published 2027 School Calendar (copy saved )
Each figure above was tested against saved copies of these papers, last read on . Should this page and the Government Gazette ever part ways, go by the Gazette. How each date is tested.