The current and proposed school holidays for South Africa.
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]