Employers can expect requests for additional days off on Friday, 17 June 2016 and Monday, 8 August 2016 to convert those periods into long weekends. Employers are advised to timeously make arrangements with employees who wish to take extra days off to take leave or to work in those days.

An additional public holiday may be expected for the local government elections which takes place between May and August 2016.

Workers’ Day on Sunday, 1 May 2016 is the only public holiday, except 1 January 2017 that falls on a Sunday. Monday the 2nd of May 2016 becomes an additional public holiday in terms of the Public Holidays Act.

Two consecutive public holidays, as opposed to one, impact more severely on working and shift arrangements. Employers need to consider and plan in advance for this occasion. Collective agreements and Bargaining Council Collective agreements may also govern public holidays, working arrangements and shifts.

Employees who are on strike on public holidays are not entitled to any remuneration as they would not have ‘ordinarily worked’ on any day of the strike, including the public holiday.

The remaining public holidays for 2016 are:

Human Rights Day
Monday, 21 March 2016

Good Friday
Friday, 25 March 2016

Family Day
Monday, 28 March 2016

Freedom Day
Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Workers’ Day
Sunday, 1 May 2016

Public Holiday
Monday, 2 May 2016

Youth Day
Thursday, 16 June 2016

National Women’s Day
Tuesday, 9 August 2016

Heritage Day
Saturday, 24 September 2016

Day of Reconciliation
Friday, 16 December 2016

Christmas Day
Sunday, 25 December 2016

Day of Goodwill
Monday, 26 December 2016

New Year’s Day
Sunday, 1 January 2017

Public Holiday
Monday, 2 January 2017

Written by Faan Coetzee, executive consultant, Employment practice, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr