Annual leave and public holidays in South Africa 2026
How many paid days off you get in South Africa depends on the legal minimum, your contract and the public holidays that fall on working days. The calculator above counts them for your own case. Below you will find the legal minimum, the 2026 public holidays and the family leave rules.
Your annual leave
The legal minimum in South Africa is 15 working days a year on a five-day week. In 2026, 10 public holidays fall on working days (national, on working days). In the example (15 days of leave in the contract) that makes 25 paid days off in all.
The BCEA gives 21 consecutive days of annual leave a year (15 working days on a 5-day week), plus 12 public holidays; a holiday on a Sunday moves to Monday. Sick leave is 30 days over each 3-year cycle and family responsibility leave 3 days a year.
Public holidays 2026 in South Africa
| Date | Holiday | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Sat 21 Mar | Human Rights Day | weekend |
| Fri 3 Apr | Good Friday | |
| Mon 6 Apr | Family Day | |
| Mon 27 Apr | Freedom Day | |
| Fri 1 May | Workers’ Day | |
| Tue 16 Jun | Youth Day | Take Monday off → 4 days in a row |
| Sun 9 Aug | National Women’s Day | weekend |
| Mon 10 Aug | National Women’s Day (observed) | |
| Thu 24 Sept | Heritage Day | Take Friday off → 4 days in a row |
| Wed 16 Dec | Day of Reconciliation | |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day | |
| Sat 26 Dec | Day of Goodwill | weekend |
Family leave
- Maternity leave: 4 consecutive months · Pay: Unpaid by the employer; UIF pays up to 66% of pay (sliding scale)
- Parental leave: 10 consecutive days for the other parent (the rules are being changed after a 2025 court ruling) · Pay: UIF benefit (sliding scale)
- Child Support Grant: Monthly per child, from SASSA · Pay: Means-tested, not included here
- Sick leave: 30 days in each 3-year cycle (5-day week) · Pay: 100% of pay
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do I get in South Africa?
At least 15 working days a year on a five-day week. Many contracts and collective agreements give more.
How many public holidays are there in South Africa in 2026?
13 national public holidays, of which 10 fall on working days. Regional holidays can add more.
What leave do parents get?
For example, Maternity leave: 4 consecutive months (Unpaid by the employer; UIF pays up to 66% of pay (sliding scale)). The table above lists the main family leave types.
Are these figures exact?
They follow the national rules for 2026. Your contract, a collective agreement or regional holidays can give more days off.
Rules and official sources: see “Rules applied (2026)” above. Last checked: October 2026. The amounts are estimates for information, not financial or legal advice.
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