School holidays 2028
Public schools have four breaks in 2028: 18 to 27 March 2028 (10 days), 15 June to 10 July 2028 (26 days), 23 September to 2 October 2028 (10 days), from 7 December 2028.
The four breaks
| Holidays | Last school day | Days without school | School days start again | Length | Public holidays in the break |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March holidays | Sat 18 to Mon 27 Mar | Term 2 | 10 days (6 weekdays) | Human Rights Day (Tue 21 Mar) | |
| June–July holidays | Thu 15 Jun to Mon 10 Jul | Term 3 | 26 days (18 weekdays) | Youth Day (Fri 16 Jun) | |
| September–October holidays | Sat 23 Sep to Mon 2 Oct | Term 4 | 10 days (6 weekdays) | Heritage Day (Sun 24 Sep), Public holiday for Heritage Day (Mon 25 Sep) | |
| December holidays | from Thu 7 DecDays for administration: Thu 7 to Fri 8 Dec | Term 1 2029: not published yet | ends with the next year’s calendar (not published) | Day of Reconciliation (Sat 16 Dec), Christmas Day (Mon 25 Dec), Day of Goodwill (Tue 26 Dec)to 31 December 2028; later ones depend on the end of the break |
Taken from Government Gazette 55619, Notice 8081 of 23 October 2026: 2028 Calendar for public schools; gov.za: National Education Policy Act: 2028 Calendar for public schools; Department of Basic Education: Proposed 2028 School Calendar for public comments (a proposed calendar for public comment, not the published notice; listed as a cross-check only). Saved copies last read on .
The days for administration in the table are explained with the term dates on the school calendar 2028 page.
Add the 2028 school calendar to your calendar The calendar file uses the .ics format. Import it into a phone or computer calendar to add the dates.
What sets 2028 apart
- The longest break with a published end is the June–July holidays (26 days); the shortest are the March holidays and the September–October holidays (10 days each). The year-end break starts on Thursday 7 December 2028; its end depends on the 2029 calendar.
- Easter falls inside Term 2 in 2028: Good Friday (Friday 14 April 2028) and Family Day (Monday 17 April 2028) are school days off, not part of a school holiday.
- The special school holiday of 2028 is Friday 28 April 2028, together with Freedom Day (Thursday) and Workers’ Day (Monday): learners at public schools have five days in a row without school, from Thursday 27 April 2028 to Monday 1 May 2028.
Taken from Government Gazette 55619, Notice 8081 of 23 October 2026: 2028 Calendar for public schools; gov.za: National Education Policy Act: 2028 Calendar for public schools; Department of Basic Education: Proposed 2028 School Calendar for public comments (a proposed calendar for public comment, not the published notice; listed as a cross-check only); Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Saved copies last read on .
School days off inside the terms
Six weekdays inside the 2028 terms are days off for public schools, so the year has 200 school days rather than 206.
| Date | Why | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Term 2 | |
| Family Day | Term 2 | |
| Freedom Day | Term 2 | |
| Special school holiday | Term 2 | |
| Workers’ Day | Term 2 | |
| National Women’s Day | Term 3 |
Taken from Government Gazette 55619, Notice 8081 of 23 October 2026: 2028 Calendar for public schools; Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Saved copies last read on .
2029 calendar
The school calendar for 2029 has not been published in the Government Gazette. No dates are shown until it is published.
Questions people ask
- When do schools close for the year-end holidays in 2028?
- The last school day of 2028 is Wednesday 6 December 2028. The 2029 calendar is not in the Government Gazette yet.
- Which weekdays inside the 2028 terms have no school?
- Six weekdays: Good Friday (Friday 14 April 2028, Term 2); Family Day (Monday 17 April 2028, Term 2); Freedom Day (Thursday 27 April 2028, Term 2); the special school holiday (Friday 28 April 2028, Term 2); Workers’ Day (Monday 1 May 2028, Term 2); National Women’s Day (Wednesday 9 August 2028, Term 3).
- Is 28 April 2028 a public holiday?
- No. The Gazette names Friday 28 April 2028 a special school holiday: public schools are closed, but it is not a public holiday for employers.
The Gazette notices and pages behind this page
- Government Gazette 55619, Notice 8081 of 23 October 2026: 2028 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- gov.za: National Education Policy Act: 2028 Calendar for public schools (copy saved )
- Department of Basic Education: Proposed 2028 School Calendar for public comments (a proposed calendar for public comment, not the published notice; listed as a cross-check only) (copy saved )
- Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 (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.