What's Open on SA Public Holidays 2026

Pick a holiday

General rules

• Government services (Home Affairs, SASSA, SARS, Post Office) are ALWAYS closed on public holidays.
• Banks are closed; ATMs and online banking work normally.
• Major grocery chains (Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Woolworths, Spar) are open with reduced hours on every holiday EXCEPT Christmas Day, when most close entirely.
• Petrol stations stay open 24/7 every day of the year.
• Hospitals and emergency services are 24/7.
• Pharmacies (Dis-Chem, Clicks, independents) mostly stay open with reduced hours - except Christmas Day.
• Liquor sales follow each province's liquor laws. Good Friday and Christmas Day have the most extensive bottle-store closures.
• Schools and universities are closed during term holidays anyway; for in-term public holidays they are also closed.
• Stock exchange (JSE) closed on every SA public holiday.

The Sunday substitution rule

Under the Public Holidays Act (Act 36 of 1994), if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is automatically observed as a public holiday. This rule does NOT apply to Saturdays.

In 2026 this affects: Women's Day on Sunday 9 August - Monday 10 August is also a public holiday. Human Rights Day (Saturday 21 March) does NOT trigger a Monday substitution.

Related

• Public holidays 2026 calendar + long weekends
• School holidays 2026
• Fuel prices (relevant for holiday travel)