As we bid farewell to 2023, it is time to gear up for the opportunities and challenges that the coming year holds. Strategic planning is the linchpin for a successful journey in your business and personal life—and where better to find the essential information for a seamless transition into 2024 than the Government Gazette of South Africa?  

In the quest for early and accurate access to this crucial data, Sabinet Discover stands out as a trailblazer. With its comprehensive South African Gazettes service designed for accessing Government Gazettes, it ensures that users can retrieve reliable and credible information minimising the risk of inaccuracies and ensuring a smooth transition into the new calendar year. This sets the stage for a year of well-informed decisions. 

A yearly tradition unfolds within the Gazette's pages—the release of the school calendar for the upcoming year. This critical information is not only a staple for individuals to maximise their leave planning and capitalise on extended long weekends, but is especially vital for business owners, and professionals in the service and tourism sectors, school principals, educators, and of course parents who all need to align their plans with the schedule. 

South Africa, with its rich tapestry of culture and history, observes 12 official public holidays as determined by the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994). These are New Year’s Day, Human Rights Day, Good Friday, Family Day, Freedom Day, Workers’ Day, Youth Day, National Women’s Day, Heritage Day, Day of Reconciliation, Christmas Day, and the Day of Goodwill. The dates on which Good Friday and Easter Sunday (Family Day) fall, are determined according to the ecclesiastical moon. That varies each year, but they fall at some point between late March and late April. The Act also stipulates that whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following it shall be a public holiday. 

Each year the actual dates of the Easter Holidays are confirmed and published in the Gazette as part of the school calendars, as are any additional public holidays declared by the President of South Africa. This year, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared 15 December 2023 a public holiday in celebration of the Springboks’ momentous achievement at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Paris, France. This proclamation was gazetted in November 2023. 

In 2024, a noteworthy addition to the calendar will be the South African General Election, introducing an additional public holiday, the date of which is still to be announced. There is speculation about an extended voting period, which could result in a second additional public holiday for voting. Stay tuned to Sabinet Discover to find out as soon as these dates are formally gazetted. 

Your gateway to timely information 

Accessing Government Gazettes transcends mere information retrieval; it is about upholding transparency, accountability, and the timely dissemination of critical details to all South Africans. 

Sabinet Discover goes beyond mere access; it offers a user-friendly experience that provides seamless access, customised alerts, and more. Printing, downloading, and emailing gazetted content can be done within the platform. Searching for specific information is a breeze, and users can set up daily and weekly email alerts tailored to their needs. These alerts bring links to the full-text content straight to your inbox, ensuring you never miss a crucial update. 

Delve into gazetted information extensively, either on a notice-by-notice level or by obtaining the complete Gazette. Subscribing to Sabinet's service provides online access to proclamations, school calendars, and much more, covering both Government and Provincial Gazettes. 

Sabinet Discover is not just a resource; it is an empowerment tool for users across sectors. By simplifying access to Government Gazettes and related notices, the platform ensures users navigate to accurate information with confidence, setting the stage for a well-prepared and informed start to 2024!