Reference: Published by Garrin Lambley (SA People News), 21 May 2024
South African pupils are currently in the second term and eagerly counting down the days until their June-July holidays.
In a change from previous years, all public schools – both inland and coastal – will follow the same term calendar in 2024.
There is no longer a difference between inland and coastal schools’ holiday schedules as was previously the case.
Note: Inland provinces include the Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West, while coastal provinces are the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, and Western Cape.
203 School Days in 2024
The Department of Basic Education’s 2024 school calendar shows that this year will comprise 203 school days across four terms, which is four more days than in 2023.
The second term will end on Friday, 14 June.
Learners will enjoy just over a three-week break before returning to their desks on Tuesday, 9 July.
Pupils will also have Wednesday, 29 May off from school due to the Voting Day public holiday.
The third term will run from 9 July to 20 September and will comprise 53 days, making it the longest term of the year.
Dates for the 2024 Terms
- Term 1: 17 January to 20 March (46 days)
- Term 2: 3 April to 14 June (52 days)
- Term 3: 9 July to 20 September (53 days)
- Term 4: 1 October to 11 December (52 days)
South Africa will have 14 public holidays in 2024, including an additional day off to celebrate one public holiday which falls on a Sunday.
As mentioned, some holidays will fall during school breaks, while others will provide welcome mid-week breaks for learners.
In a typical year, South Africa has 12 public holidays, which is roughly the average when compared to other countries. The global average for public holidays is 11 days.
Workers in most European countries enjoy 10-14 public holidays a year. The United Kingdom, however, has only eight.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Myanmar has 30 public holidays, while Sri Lanka, Iran, India, and China have 29, 27, 21, and 17, respectively.
Public Holidays in 2024
- Monday, 1 January: New Year’s Day – Passed
- Thursday, 21 March: Human Rights Day – Passed
- Friday, 29 March: Good Friday – Passed
- Monday, 1 April: Family Day – Passed
- Saturday, 27 April: Freedom Day – Passed
- Wednesday, 1 May: Workers’ Day – Passed
- Wednesday, 29 May: Voting Day
- Sunday, 16 June: Youth Day
- Monday, 17 June: Public holiday (Youth Day observed)
- Friday, 9 August: National Women’s Day
- Tuesday, 24 September: Heritage Day
- Monday, 16 December: Day of Reconciliation
- Wednesday, 25 December: Christmas Day
- Thursday, 26 December: Day of Goodwill