PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has declared 27 December a public holiday throughout the Republic of South Africa, in terms of section 2A of the Public Holidays Act. The President has declared the date as a public holiday following a request by the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA). The request by FEDUSA was motivated by the fact this year workers in the country will only have 11 public holidays instead of 12 due to fact that the 25th of December (Christmas Day) falls on a Sunday.

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, this year the Monday following the 25 December is another public holiday, being 26 December, Day of Goodwill. This has resulted in the two public holidays overlapping.

The declaration of 27 December as a public holiday will ensure that workers are not unduly disadvantaged because of this unusual event and are still entitled to their 12 paid public holidays.