In Case You Missed It, We Got an Extra Leave Day For December

Photo Credit: Mateusz Dach via Pexels

Late last week the presidency announced that the 27th of December would be a public holiday in observance of Christmas Day which falls on a Sunday. This means one extra leave day for all!

South Africa (13 December 2022) – If you have already put in your leave, you will be excited to know, that you have an extra day. The presidency announced last week that December 27th would be a public holiday, observing the holiday that falls on a Sunday.

This means if you took that day as leave, you will be owed one day back and if you have not taken it, you now have an extra day off this festive season.

The reason for the day is that this year, Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. Traditionally, when a holiday falls on a Sunday in South Africa, is observed on the Monday that follows. As Christmas falls on the Sunday and then is followed by Boxing Day on the Monday, the Sunday holiday could be observed on the Tuesday.

In a statement from the presidency, the following was explained:

“South Africans will enjoy Tuesday, 27 December 2022, as a public holiday in lieu of Christmas Day falling on a Sunday.

This follows a declaration to this effect by President Cyril Ramaphosa in terms of Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994).

In terms of the 2022 annual calendar, Christmas Day, 25 December, falls on a Sunday.

Section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act provides that “whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday”.

In this instance, the Monday following the 25 December 2022 is another public holiday, Day of Goodwill.

If the holiday of Sunday, 25 December were to be moved to Monday, 26 December, this would cancel the holiday of 26 December or cause the two holidays – which are part of 12 paid public holidays annually – to overlap.

This would mean workers would only have 11 paid public holidays in this year, while Section 5 of the Public Holidays Act provides that “… every employee shall be entitled to … at least the number of public holidays as provided for in this Act.”

In view of the unique circumstances around the 2022 calendar, and to uphold relevant labour law principles and practices, President Ramaphosa has declared Tuesday, 27 December, as a public holiday in lieu of Christmas Day.”