While South Africans are currently enjoying a long weekend, the good news is that the next public holiday in mere days away!
Those who like to diarise days off work will no doubt know that the next day off work is Thursday, 1 May.
That will be Workers’ Day.
Why does South Africa celebrate Workers’ Day?
Originally born from the protracted struggle for workers’ rights and social justice of the late 1800s, Workers’ Day has been an international holiday in many countries since 1891.
In South Africa, Workers’ Day has been officially recognised and observed since the first democratic elections in 1994.
The holiday serves both as a celebration of workers’ rights and as a reminder of the critical role that trade unions, the Communist Party and other labour organisations played in the fight against apartheid.
Workers’ Day in South Africa holds its own cultural significance, as the public holiday has come to signify not only the sacrifices made on the long road toward fair employment standards but also the bitter battle against apartheid in which trade and labour unions played a key role.
Because South Africa’s working classes were those most oppressed by apartheid, the struggle for better working conditions and the struggle to overthrow systemic segregation became closely linked.
Before the elections of 1994, labour and trade groups often used Workers’ Day as a symbol to rally the population against the segregation and oppression of the apartheid system, organising demonstrations and encouraging widespread resistance.
More long weekends in 2025 than 2024
Although South Africans will enjoy one fewer public holiday in 2025, there will be more long weekends this year than in 2024.
Mzansi had 14 public holidays in 2024.
Included in that number were two ‘extra’ days thanks to Voting day on Wednesday, 29 May, and an observation day for Youth Day, which fell on a Sunday (16 June) this year.
However, in 2025 there will only be one ‘extra’ public holiday for Freedom Day (Sunday, 27 April) meaning that Monday, 28 April (today) will be a holiday.
There will be no Voting day (that we are aware of …)
This means that South Africa will have 13 days of public holidays this year, but only 12 will be actual days off work.
Of course, the fewer days off, the better for business in the country.
Working South Africans will not get a day off to celebrate National Women’s Day in 2025 because the public holiday falls on Saturday, 9 August.
The Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994) determines that whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following it will also be a public holiday.
However, for public holidays that fall on a Saturday, it’s just a ‘normal’ weekend day.
Long weekends
The exciting news is that there are FIVE long weekends in 2025.
The first was thanks to Human Rights Day on Friday, 21 March which gave South Africans 21-23 March off.
The second was the Easter weekend with a four-day 18-21 April break to enjoy your chocolate.
The third is thanks to Freedom Day falling on Sunday, 27 April, meaning Monday, 28 April is a holiday – and another three-day weekend.
Monday, 16 June (Youth Day) will mean another three-day long weekend in mid-year, while the fifth and final long weekend in another four-day one with Christmas and the Day of Goodwill (Boxing Day) falling on a Thursday and Friday, respectively.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN 2025
Diarise the following public holidays in 2025 and plan your vacations accordingly!
Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Friday, 21 March: Human Rights Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Monday, 21 April: Family Day
Sunday, 27 April: Freedom Day
Monday, 28 April: Public holiday for Freedom Day observed
Thursday, 1 May: Workers’ Day
Monday, 16 June: Youth Day
Saturday, 9 August: National Women’s Day (lost)
Wednesday, 24 September: Heritage Day
Tuesday, 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Day of Goodwill
Average compared to other countries
In a typical year, South Africa has 12 public holidays, which is roughly the average when compared to other countries.
The global average for public holidays is 11 days.
Workers in most European countries enjoy 10-14 public holidays a year. The United Kingdom, however, has only eight.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Myanmar has 30 public holidays, while Sri Lanka, Iran, India and China have 29, 27, 21 and 17, respectively.
Do you have any plans for the Workers’ Day holiday?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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