Additional Public Holiday – 4 November 2026
Please take note that the President of South Africa has officially declared Wednesday, 4 November 2026 a national public holiday to facilitate the Local Government Elections. The declaration was made in terms of Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act and published in Government Gazette No. 55352. For your reference, we have attached a copy of the Government Gazette No. 55352 as well as an information circular from Global Business Solutions (GBS) outlining the key employment and payroll implications for employers: GBS_Media_Release_Nov4_Public_Holiday
What This Means for Employers:
This is an additional public holiday and does not replace any existing holiday on the 2026 calendar. Employers should therefore treat 4 November 2026 as a normal public holiday for purposes of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), including employee remuneration and work arrangements.
Key Action Guidelines for Businesses:
Employers should review and update the following:
- Payroll systems to ensure the new public holiday is correctly reflected.
- Shift rosters and schedules, particularly for businesses operating continuously or on a 24/7 basis.
- Annual leave records, as employees on approved leave during this period should not have the public holiday counted as annual leave.
- Public holiday work arrangements, including applicable pay rates and time-off-in-lieu provisions where employees are required to work.
- Employee communications to ensure all staff are informed of any operational changes well in advance.
Why It Matters:
The additional holiday falls during the final quarter of the year, a period when many organisations are focused on production targets, year-end projects, budgeting activities, and festive season planning. = Early preparation will help minimise operational disruption and ensure compliance with labour legislation.
