The current and proposed school holidays for South Africa.
2023
2024
2025
2026
2023
The Department of Basic Education published the school calendar for 2023 on 18 March 2022.
Inland cluster: Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (09) 11 Jan - 24 Mar | 11 | 53(55) | 1+1 | 51 (53) |
2 | 12 Apr – 23 Jun | 11 | 53 | 3+1 | 49 |
3 | 18 Jul – 29 Sept | 11 | 54 | 2 | 52 |
4 | 10 Oct – 13 (15) Dec | 10 | 47 (49) | 0 | 47 (49) |
| Total | 43 | 207 (211) | 6+2 | 199 (203) |
Coastal cluster: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Western Cape
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (16) 18 Jan - 31 Mar | 11 | 53(55) | 1+1 | 51(53) |
2 | 12 Apr – 23 Jun | 11 | 53 | 3+1 | 49 |
3 | 18 Jul – 29 Sept | 11 | 54 | 2 | 52 |
4 | 10 Oct – 13 (15) Dec | 10 | 47 (49) | 0 | 47 (49) |
| Total | 43 | 207 (211) | 6+2 | 199 (203) |
Public and School Holidays 2023
1 January: New Year’s Day
2 January: Public holiday
20 March: Special school holiday
21 March: Human Rights Day
7 April: Good Friday
10 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
28 April: Special school holiday
1 May: Workers’ Day
16 June: Youth Day
9 August: National Women’s Day
24 September: Heritage Day
25 September: Public holiday
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of GoodwillSource: National Education Policy Act: 2023 school calendar for public schools [PDF]
2024
The Department of Basic Education published the school calendar for 2024 on 4 August 2022.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (15) 17 Jan - 20 Mar | 10 | 46 (48) | 0 | 46 (48) |
2 | 3 Apr – 14 Jun | 11 | 53 | 1+0 | 52 |
3 | 9 Jul – 20 Sept | 11 | 54 | 1+0 | 53 |
4 | 1 Oct – 11 (13) Dec | 11 | 52 (54) | 0 | 52 (54) |
| Total | 43 | 205 (209) | 2+0 | 203 (207) |
Public and School Holidays 2024
1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
29 March: Good Friday
1 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
24 September: Heritage Day
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
Source: National Education Policy Act: 2024 school calendar for public schools [PDF]
2025
The Department of Basic Education published the school calendar for 2025 on 31 January 2023.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (13) 15 Jan - 28 Mar | 11 | 53 (55) | 1 | 52 (54) |
2 | 8 Apr – 27 Jun | 12 | 59 | 5+3 | 51 |
3 | 22 Jul – 3 Oct | 11 | 54 | 1 | 53 |
4 | 13 Oct – 10 (12) Dec | 9 | 43 (45) | 0 | 43 (45) |
| Total | 43 | 209 (213) | 7+3 | 199 (203) |
Public and School Holidays 2025
1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
18 April: Good Friday
21 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
28 April: Freedom Day observed
29 April: Special school holiday
30 April: Special school holiday
1 May: Workers’ Day
2 May: Special school holiday
16 June: Youth Day
9 August: National Women’s Day
24 September: Heritage Day
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
Source: National Education Policy Act: 2025 school calendar for public schools [PDF]
2026
The Department of Basic Education published the draft school calendar for 2026 on 31 January 2023.
Term | Duration | Number of weeks | Number of days | Number of public holidays | Actual number of school days |
1 | (12) 14 Jan - 27 Mar | 11 | 53 (55) | 0 | 53 (55) |
2 | 8 Apr – 26 Jun | 12 | 58 | 3+1 | 54 |
3 | 21 Jul – 2 Oct | 11 | 54 | 2+1 | 51 |
4 | 13 Oct – 9 (11) Dec | 9 | 42 (44) | 0 | 42 (44) |
| Total | 43 | 207 (211) | 5+2 | 200 (204) |
Public and School Holidays 2026
1 January: New Year’s Day
21 March: Human Rights Day
3 April: Good Friday
6 April: Family Day
27 April: Freedom Day
1 May: Workers’ Day
15 June: Special school holiday
16 June: Youth Day
9 August: National Women’s Day
10 August: National Women’s Day observed
24 September: Heritage Day
25 September: Special school holiday
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Day of Goodwill
Source: National Education Policy Act: Draft 2026 school calendar for public schools [PDF]