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How to Get More Leave Days In South Africa In 2025 Using the South African Public Holidays

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South African Public holidays are usually just a day off or two, With the right strategy, you can extend these days to have your time off longer to enjoy time with your family, go on that short vacation you always meant to go for or just relax at home, giving yourself some me-time. The following guide will help you structure your leave around South African holidays to maximize your time-off in 2025, along with an email template you can use to apply for a leave.

Here is a list of South Africa’s Public Holidays in 2025

  1. New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1 January
  2. Human Rights Day: Friday, 21 March
  3. Good Friday: Friday, 11 April
  4. Family Day: Monday, 14 April
  5. Freedom Day: Sunday, 27 April (observed on Monday, 28 April)
  6. Worker’s Day—Thursday, 1 May
  7. Youth Day: Monday, 16 June
  8. National Women’s Day: Saturday, 9 August (observed on Monday, 11 August)
  9. Heritage Day: Wednesday, 24 September
  10. Day of Reconciliation: Tuesday, 16 December
  11. Christmas Day: Thursday, 25 December
  12. Day of Goodwill: Friday, 26 December

How to Maximize Your Leave in 2025

When you apply for leave, you can choose a day that is before or after a public holiday to extend your days away from the office. The following examples will give you an idea of when to ask for a leave around South African public holidays to maximize your time off from work.

March: Human Rights Day Long Weekend

  • What is Public Holiday about: Human Rights Day (Friday, 21 March)?
  • Suitable Leave Day: No need for an additional leave.

This holiday is on Friday, so you have 3 whole days to rest. From Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd will give you enough time to enjoy your holiday, go out with your friends, or to the beach and still have time to rest.

April: Easter & Freedom Day Break

  • How many public holidays:
    • Good Friday (Friday, 11 April)
    • Family Day (Monday, 14 April)
    • Freedom Day (observed on Monday, 28 April)
  • Suitable Leave Days: Apply for leave on Tuesday, 15 April

If you apply for a leave on the 15th of April, then you have five continuous days of rest from Friday 11th to the 15th; in that way, you can travel to see your family members or plan family dinners at home and invite your friends.

May: Worker’s Day Long Weekend

  • What is the Public Holiday about: Worker’s Day (Thursday, 1 May)
  • Suitable Leave Day to apply for: Friday, 2 May.

Extend your public holiday into a long weekend by taking a day off on Friday, giving you 4 full days from May 1st to Sunday the 4th.

June: Youth Day Long Weekend

  • What is the Public Holiday about : Youth Day (Monday, 16 June )
  • Suitable Leave Days to apply for: No Need to apply for a leave

There is no need to apply for extra days since this holiday is on Monday, giving you a 3-day weekend that gives you plenty of time for events and resting.

August: Women’s Day Long Weekend

  • What is the Public Holiday about : National Women’s Day (Saturday, 9 August, observed on Monday, 11 August)
  • Suitable leave days to apply for: No need for extra days

This public holiday is on a Monday, giving you a 3-day weekend at home without wasting any of your leave days.

September: Heritage Day Mid-Week Break

  • What is the public holiday about? Heritage Day (Wednesday, 24 September)
  • Suitable leave days to apply for: Monday, 22nd to Tuesday, 23 September, or Thursday, 25th to Friday, 26 September.

This is a holiday in the middle of the week; to extend your days and enjoy the extra weekend added days, take a leave two days before or after Heritage Day, giving you a 5-day holiday.

December: Festive Season Extended Break

  • A list of public holidays in December:
    • Day of Reconciliation (Tuesday, 16 December)
    • Christmas Day (Thursday, 25 December)
    • Day of Goodwill (Friday, 26 December)
  • Suitable leave days to apply for: 17-19 December and 22-24 December (six days).

Maximize your festive time off from the office by applying for 6 days in between the holidays to get a 16-day holiday. You will have more time to travel, go on vacation, have a full rest, and come back refreshed.

Sample Leave Request Email

The following template will guide you on how to request for leave and maximize time off work around the South African public holidays.

Subject: Leave Request for Extended Holiday in [Month/2025]

Dear [Manager’s Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I would like to formally request leave to extend my holiday time on the following public holidays. I would like to take leave as follows:

  1. April: 15 and 22-25 April
  2. May: 2 May
  3. September: [22-23 September or 25-26 September]
  4. December: 17-19 and 22-24 December

The dates I have mentioned are situated around the public holidays, giving me extra time off from work without affecting the company’s production. I have arranged a way to make sure all my responsibilities are covered in my absence, and I am open to discussing a suitable way that can work for both me and the company.

I am available for any further discussion, and I can provide any extra information needed on the issue at your earliest convenience. Thank you in advance for considering my leave request.

Warm regards,

(Your Name)

Final Tips for Maximizing Your Leave onPublic holidays in South Africa

  1. Submit your request as early as possible to have a higher chance of being approved before many other requests from your colleagues come.
  2. Be proactive and arrange for someone to stand in for you to cover your responsibilities in your absence.
  3. Use your leave ways wisely and apply for 1-day leave around the holidays to maximize your days off without misusing your leave days.

Strategically requesting leave days around public holidays in South Africa allows you to have extra days off work to spend time with your families and catch up on life without exhausting your leave days before the year ends. 

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