According to the Act, the public holidays for 2023 are as follows:
- Sunday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
- Monday, 2 January: Public holiday New Year’s Day observed
- Tuesday, 21 March: Human Rights Day
- Friday, 7 April: Good Friday
- Monday, 10 April: Family Day
- Thursday, 27 April: Freedom Day
- Monday, 1 May: Workers’ Day
- Friday, 16 June: Youth Day
- Wednesday, 9 August: National Women’s Day
- Sunday, 24 September: Heritage Day
- Monday, 25 September: Public holiday Heritage Day observed
- Saturday, 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
- Monday, 25 December: Christmas Day
- Tuesday, 26 December: Day of Goodwill
When looking at the public holidays we normally look to Easter weekend to maximise our leave the most. For 2023, Easter Weekend will be in Ramadaan. However, we might be able to squeeze in a long weekend just before Ramadaan starts.
Most jobs give 15 working days leave per year. Generally, companies close over the December/January period and you need to save some of your annual leave for then. But it is nice to take some time off during the year to recharge your batteries or it might be a long 11 months.
Let us take it month by month and see how to maximise our annual leave for 2023.
March
Since human rights day is on Tuesday, 21 March you can take off Monday, 20th and you get 4 days off.
Leave taken 1 day.
Days off 4 days.
Click here to Prepare for Ramadaan
April/May
Easter weekend is on from Friday 7 – Monday 10 April. If you take Thursday, 6th and Tuesday, 11th as annual leave, you will get a total of of 6 days off.
Leave taken 2 days.
Days off 6 days.
Freedom day is on Thursday, 27th April. Take annual leave on Friday, 28th April and you will receive 5 days off as Monday, 1 May is Workers’ Day.
Leave taken 1 day.
Days off 5 days.
Click here to Enjoy a Long Weekend Family Break
June
Youth day is on Friday, 16th. You can either take Thursday, 15th or Monday, 19th as annual leave and make it a 4 day weekend.
Leave taken 1 day.
Days off 4 days.
Click here to plan a Family Hike
September
Since Heritage Day falls on a Sunday, the public holiday is observed on the Monday. You can take Friday, 22nd as annual leave and get a long weekend of 4 days.
Leave taken 1 day.
Days off 4 days.
Click here and go on an African Safari
December
Take these 4 days as annual leave and get a total of 11 days off. Days to take off are Friday, 22nd and 27th, 28th and 29th. And you will be back at work on Tuesday, 2nd January 2024.
Leave taken 4 days.
Days off 11 days.
Click here for great December Holiday Ideas
In summary, if you take all the annual leave days as stipulated above, that would accumulate to 10 days annual leave for 34 days off.
Depending on whether you receive 15 or 20 working days annual leave per year, you could still have a balance of 5/10 annual leave days to take at your discretion to extend any of the holiday periods above.