The current and proposed school holidays for South Africa.
2019
2020
2021
The Department of Basic Education has published the school calendar for 2019 on 1 November 2017.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (07) 09 Jan - 15 March | 10 | 48 (50) | 0 | 48 (50) |
2 | 02 Apr - 14 Jun | 11 | 54 | 3 + 0 | 51 |
3 | 9 Jul - 20 Sep | 11 | 54 | 1 +0 | 53 |
4 | 01 Oct - 4 (6) Dec | 10 | 47 (49) | 0 | 47 (49) |
| Total | 42 | 203 (207) | 4 + 0 | 199 (203) |
- Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators
Public and School Holidays 2019
1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
19 April: Good Friday
22 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
1 May: Workers' Day
16 June: Youth Day
17 June: Public holiday
9 August: National Women’s Day
23 September: School holiday
24 September: Heritage Day
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
Source: National Education Policy Act: 2019 school calendar for public schools [PDF]
2020
The Department of Basic Education has published the school calendar for 2020 on 11 January 2018.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (13) 15 Jan - 20 Mar | 10 | 48 (50) | 0 | 48 (50) |
2 | 31 Mar – 12 Jun | 11 | 54 | 4 | 50 |
3 | 7 Jul – 18 Sep | 11 | 54 | 1 | 53 |
4 | 29 Sep – 2 (4)Dec | 10 | 47 (49) | 0 | 47 (49) |
| Total | 42 | 203 (207) | 5 | 198 (202) |
Public and School Holidays 2020
1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
10 April: Good Friday
13 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
1 May: Workers’ Day
16 June: Youth Day
9 August: National Women’s Day
10 August: Public Holiday
24 September: Heritage Day
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
Source: National Education Policy Act: 2020 school calendar for public schools [PDF]
2021
The Department of Basic Education has published the draft school calendar for 2021 on 15 March 2019 for public comments.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (11) 13 Jan - 26 Mar | 11 | 53 (55) | 1 | 52 (54) |
2 | 07 Apr – 11 Jun | 10 | 48 | 1+1 | 46 |
3 | 06 Jul – 17 Sep | 11 | 54 | 1 | 53 |
4 | 28 Sep – 01 (03)Dec | 10 | 47 (49) | 0 | 47 |
| Total | 42 | 202 (206) | 3+1 | 198 (202) |
Public and School Holidays 2021
1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
22 March: Public Holiday
02 April: Good Friday
05 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
26 April: School Holiday
1 May: Workers’ Day
16 June: Youth Day
9 August: National Women’s Day
10 August: Public Holiday
24 September: Heritage Day
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
Source: National Education Policy Act: 2021 school calendar for public schools: Comments invited [PDF]