Push for South Africa to get EXTRA public holiday in December

The leadership of Fedusa has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa requesting an additional paid public holiday in December 2022.

Oct 12, 2022 - 18:54
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Push for South Africa to get EXTRA public holiday in December

The Leadership of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa requesting an additional paid public holiday in December 2022.

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According to BusinessTech, the appeal comes due to the fact that Christmas Day will fall on a Sunday this year – meaning that working South Africans will only enjoy 11 out of the 12 paid public holidays this year.

According to section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act, 1994, “whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday”.

However, the Monday following Christmas Day is already a public holiday (Day of Goodwill), meaning workers will not get the benefit of 12 public holidays this year as two fall on the same day.

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In 2016, when Christmas Day also fell on a Sunday, Cosatu lobbied for an extra public holiday in December.

Following their request, then-president Jacob Zuma declared Tuesday, 27 December 2016 a public holiday.

Seven years later, trade unions are hoping for the same result.

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“Fedusa remains resolute that working South Africans should not be dealt with a further injustice to their income security, already eroded during Covid-19, and must therefore be able to enjoy their full 12 paid public holidays,” the group said in a statement.

Fedusa added that this gesture would go a long way in strengthening workers’ morale, considering the difficulties they’ve faced in 2022. It said that declaring an additional holiday would also help boost economic activity during the festive season.

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Public holidays in SA in 2022

  • 1 January – New Year’s Day
  • 21 March – Human Rights Day
  • 15 April – Good Friday
  • 18 April – Family Day (Follows Easter Sunday)
  • 27 April – Freedom Day
  • 1 May – Workers Day
  • 16 June – Youth Day
  • 9 August – National Women’s Day
  • 24 September – Heritage Day
  • 16 December – Day of Reconciliation
  • 25 December – Christmas Day
  • 26 December – Day of Goodwill