Leave policy in South Africa

When hiring South African employees, it’s crucial to understand the leave policy in South Africa and the time off they’re entitled to. Staying informed about vacation time, sick leave, maternity leave, and public holidays helps employers manage their workforce effectively while respecting local labor laws. Compliance with these regulations not only protects your business but also fosters a positive work environment.

This post provides an overview of South Africa’s leave entitlements to help HR leaders, founders, and companies navigate the country’s employment landscape confidently and maintain smooth operations.

Vacation time

In South Africa, employees get 21 days of paid vacation time for every 12 months they work. This equals 15 working days for a 5-day week or 18 working days for a 6-day week.

Part-time or short-term contracts accrue leave at a rate of 1.25 days per month. Full entitlement requires a 12-month cycle, but pro-rata leave may apply in the 1st year.

Public holidays are separate and not counted as vacation time. Employees must use their vacation days within 6 months after the end of the cycle, and these days off must be scheduled with the employee’s agreement.

Public holidays

Employees in South Africa receive 12 public holidays each year, in addition to their vacation time. If a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is a holiday.

Official public holidays include:

Holiday	Date
New Year’s Day	January 1st
Human Rights Day	March 21st
Good Friday	March or April (day changes every year)
Family Day	March or April (day changes every year)
Freedom Day	April 27th
Workers’ Day	May 1st
Youth Day	June 16th
National Women’s Day	August 9th
Heritage Day	September 24th
Day of Reconciliation	December 16th
Christmas Day	December 25th
Day of Goodwill	December 26th

Employers must pay employees their normal wage for these holidays if they fall on a day the employee would ordinarily work. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are entitled to double pay for the day worked.

Sick days

South Africa follows a rolling 36-month sick leave cycle. Employees are entitled to paid sick days equal to the number of days they would normally work during a 6-week period.

For example:

• 30 days for employees who work a 5-day week
• 36 days for those working a 6-day week

In the first 6 months, sick leave accrues at the rate of 1 day for every 26 worked days. Employees need a medical certificate to take more than 2 consecutive sick days within 8 weeks.

The sick leave entitlement applies per 36-month cycle, not annually.

Maternity leave policy in South Africa

The maternity leave policy in South Africa allows female employees to take up to 4 consecutive months of maternity leave. This may begin up to 4 weeks before their due date. The employee must take at least 6 weeks of leave after giving birth, unless a medical professional certifies that an earlier return is safe.

Maternity leave in South Africa is usually unpaid, but employees can apply to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) for partial compensation, typically up to 66% of their salary, depending on their earnings. 

Employers are not required to provide paid maternity leave, though many offer top-up benefits as part of a competitive package.

Paternity leave

Male employees or non-birthing parents are eligible for 3 days of unpaid parental leave. While employers are not required to pay for this leave, eligible employees may claim compensation through the UIF system.

If an employee is not eligible for UIF parental leave, they may still request unpaid leave from their employer. While not legally required, employers may grant this unpaid time off based on internal policies or mutual agreement.

Shared parental leave

Shared parental leave is now an option in South Africa. Parents may share up to 4 months of leave following the birth or adoption of a child. Either parent may take maternity or parental leave, depending on what they agree to.

This new framework provides parents with greater flexibility and requires employers to adapt to evolving family needs.

Other types of leave in South Africa

In addition to vacation time, sick days, and parental leave, South Africa offers several other types of leave that employers should be aware of. These help support employees during significant personal, civic, or professional events. These may or may not be statutory, depending on the local regulations.

Bereavement leave

Employees may take family responsibility leave following the death of an immediate family member.

Adoption leave

One adoptive parent is entitled to a few consecutive weeks of adoption leave. The other parent may take a few days of unpaid parental leave.

Military leave 

Employees called to compulsory military service are allowed time off, though this leave is usually unpaid.

Sterilization leave

Time off for sterilization or similar medical procedures is covered under the employee’s sick leave entitlement if procedures are medically necessary.

Training leave

While not legally required, some employers offer paid time off for job-related training or professional development to support skill growth.

Jury duty leave

Employers must allow employees time off if they are officially summoned for jury duty.

Voting leave

Employees must be granted reasonable time to vote during national or local elections, especially if they cannot vote outside of working hours.

Explore Payoneer Workforce Management in South Africa

Navigating employee leave in South Africa can be tricky, with regulations shaped by national laws, industry-specific agreements, and employee contracts. As your Employer of Record (EOR), Payoneer Workforce Management helps to keep you compliant, seamlessly manage employee leave, and run international payroll, without needing to set up a local entity in South Africa.

Book a demo today!

FAQs

1) How much leave is an employee entitled to in South Africa?

Employees in South Africa are entitled to:

• 21 consecutive days of annual paid leave
• 12 public holidays
• Up to 30 days of sick leave every 36 months
• 4 months of maternity leave (typically unpaid)
• 3 days of parental leave (typically unpaid)
• Additional types of leave depending on personal or civic obligations

2) What is the vacation policy in South Africa?

Employees receive 21 calendar days of paid vacation time per year. This is separate from public holidays.

3) How many public holidays are there in South Africa?

There are 12 public holidays annually. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday.