Make public holidays work in your favour

Thousands of South Africans returned to work this week after a long festive season break, but many are probably thinking about their next holiday already.

After weeks of partying, enjoying some fun in the sun on vacation, and relaxing in front of the TV, the reality of ‘adulting’ has settled in again.  If you can’t wait for your next holiday, or hardly got a break during the December holiday period, we are about to show you how you can get the most out of 2017’s public holidays.

Also read: Kriya's winter wonderland holiday in Norway

So, get a pen and paper ready, and jot down all the public holidays for the year, and start planning your vacation around them. Just a few days of leave, coupled with public holidays, could mean a nice, long break for you and your family.

Long weekends

April 14 (Good Friday): Friday
April 17 (Family Day): Monday
May 1 (Workers Day): Monday
June 16 (Youth Day): Friday
September 24 (Heritage Day): Sunday (which means you get Monday off)
December 25 (Christmas Day): Monday (extra bonus, the next day is also a holiday!)

List of 2017 public holidays

New Year’s Day: January 1 (Sunday – public holiday falls on Monday)
Human Rights Day: March 21 (Tuesday)
Good Friday: April 14 (Friday)
Family Day: April 17 (Monday)
Freedom Day: April 27 (Thursday)
Workers Day: May 1 (Monday)
Youth Day: June 16 (Friday)
Women’s Day: August 9 (Wednesday)
Heritage Day: September 24 (Sunday – which means no work on Monday)
Day of Reconciliation: December 16 (Saturday)
Christmas Day: December 25 (Monday)
Day of Goodwill: December 26 (Tuesday)

School Terms

One:  January 11 - March 31
Two: April 8 - June 30
Three: July 24 - September 29
Four: October 9 – December 6

***School holidays: March 20 (Monday), April 28 (Friday)