South Africa will have one fewer public holiday in 2025

South Africans will enjoy one fewer public holiday in 2025 than in 2024. This is because 29 May, the day of the 2024 National Elections, was declared a public holiday.

Another factor influencing the number of public holidays observed each year is the number of days that fall on a Saturday.

The Public Holidays Act determines that whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following that day shall also be a public holiday.

However, when a public holiday falls on a Saturday, there is no public holiday on a workday, and it will not get people time off work.

This year, only one public holiday, Freedom Day on 27 April, fell on a Saturday, which means it was not observed.

In 2025, National Women’s Day on 9 August falls on a Saturday, so it will not get people a day off work.

Freedom Day, 27 April 2025, falls on a Sunday, which means it will be observed on Monday, 28 April, as stipulated in the Public Holidays Act.

This means South Africans will observe one fewer public holiday on a weekday in 2025 than in 2024 because of the 29 May 2024 public holiday.

However, this is not bad news. More workdays benefit South Africa’s economy by increasing the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act specifies that employers cannot require employees to work on a public holiday.

Even though employees enjoy a day off work, businesses must still pay them their normal wages. This is good news for employees but bad news for businesses and the economy.

Employees who choose, or are required, to work on public holidays are entitled to double their ordinary pay.

This can be costly for business owners, especially in industries like retail, which has been suffering due to the lacklustre South African economy.

Another problem is that public holidays encourage employees to take a day or two off to create long weekends, which is disruptive to business continuity.

There is also increased absenteeism around public holidays, resulting in businesses losing much more than a single day.

South Africa’s labour laws are clear that if a worker is absent from work due to illness the day before and after a public holiday, the public holiday is still payable.

The only exception is if the worker neglects to inform the employer of their absence or provide evidence that they were ill.

Impact of public holidays on the economy

There is a debate about the impact of public holidays on the economy and businesses, but there is no clear consensus on the exact impact.

Many industrial businesses highlight that public holidays disrupt their production processes, which hurts their finances.

Productivity CEO Mothunye Mothiba explained that of the 365 days in a year, 104 are weekends, leaving 261 weekdays.

In 2023, South Africa had 14 public holidays, which means that over a quarter of the year was effectively “unproductive” non-working days.

Public holidays will decrease productivity or increase wages in many industries, like manufacturing and mining.

This can negatively impact the country’s productivity and gross domestic product, a measure of economic welfare.

A local example comes from 2011 when President Kgalema Motlanthe unexpectedly added another public holiday to South Africa’s calendar on 27 December.

BDO South Africa estimated that the decision cost R7 billion in lost revenue to South Africa’s GDP.

However, others also argue that public holidays promote extra spending by boosting domestic tourism, retail sales, and hospitality industries.

Public holidays encourage people to take time off work and take vacations, which is good news for travel and tourism industries.

Restaurants, hotels, and airlines can all benefit from public holidays and people spending money on leisure activities.

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