Excitement brews among school pupils across South Africa as May promises not one, but two public holidays. The first of these much-anticipated breaks falls on 1 May, celebrated nationwide as Workers’ Day.
Furthermore, adding to the joy, President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared 29 May as a public holiday, marking the date for the general national and provincial elections.
President proclaims 29 May as public holiday for Election Day
In accordance with constitutional obligations, President Ramaphosa proclaimed 29 May as Election Day after extensive consultations with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, affirmed this decision, stating, “The President has also, in terms of Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994), proclaimed the day of the election, 29 May 2024 as a public holiday throughout the Republic.”
The anticipation for these holidays is heightened, especially as South Africans, including school pupils are set to lose a public holiday this weekend, with Freedom Day falling on Saturday, 27 April.
The South African reported that according to the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994), when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday. However, if a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is considered void.
While the upcoming weekend may seem devoid of an extra day off. School pupils have something to look forward to in May.
Term dates for 2024 school year
With Term 2 running from 3 April to 14 June, they’ll have ample time to unwind and recharge. The 2024 term dates are available, offering pupils a glimpse into their school year schedules:
- Term 1: 17 January – 20 March
- Term 2: 3 April – 14 June
- Term 3: 9 July – 20 September
- Term 4: 1 October – 11 December
According to BusinessTech, the 2024 school year comprises 203 school days across the four terms. The 26 days are set aside for school holidays and nine public holidays in between.