Zuma declares another public holiday

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has announced that Tuesday, 27 December will be a public holiday.

The declaration, made by the president in Cape Town, comes after a request by the Federations of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) who called for the public holiday to ensure workers still get 12 paid public holidays  as Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year and Monday, 26 December is already a public holiday.

Section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act 1994, states that: “whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday.”  As 26 December 2016 is also a public holiday, the two overlap so it was decided to call for the extra public holiday on 27 December.  This will give workers 12 paid public holidays for the year.