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WILL 27 DECEMBER 2022 BE A PUBLIC HOLIDAY?

In Labour News, Labour News Teazer by Jan Truter12 Comments

Although the festive season is still some way off, the question has been raised whether the 27th of December 2022 would be regarded as a public holiday.

This year Christmas day (25th of December) falls on a Sunday and the Day of Goodwill (26th of December 2022) on a Monday.

The Public Holidays Act (PHA) provides that “whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday.” The Labour Appeal Court (LAC) interpreted this to mean that where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday should be a public holiday in addition to the Sunday.

Neither the PHA nor the LAC say anything about the further consequences of Sunday and Monday being public holidays. They certainly do not state anything about the Tuesday also having to be regarded as a public holiday.

However, in the year 2011, we had exactly the same situation. The Acting President at the time, Kgalema Motlanthe, then decided to declare the 27th of December to be a public holiday.

It remains to be seen whether the 27th of December would be declared to be a public holiday this year. If not, it will be a normal working day.

We will keep our subscribers updated.

Comments

  1. NO IT SHOULD NO BE A PUBLIC HOLIDAY. We all get legislated 15 days per year – plan your leave and you’ll be with your family over the festive season. I’m a normal paid worker and governed just like everyone else, however, I can see that this country is in crisis, small businesses are struggling, we are screwed economically, every sector in this country is in some form or another of collapse (roads, sanitation & sewerage, education, hospitals & clinics, municipalities to name but a few), there is a massive “brain drain”, skilled people are leaving this country at an alarming rate, and all people want is another paid holiday!!! It just adds to the pile of rot we’re sitting on!!

  2. The last 2 times Christmas fell on a Sunday and Boxing day on a Monday … The 27th was also declared a public holiday . The same should apply this year 2022

  3. yes it should be a holiday.. Everyone look forward to spending time with their families over the festive period as they work whole year round and deserve a break too

  4. The same occurrence happened in 2016 as well. Our president at the time declared the 27th of December a public holiday as well. However, that announcement came in September of that year. Will wait and see what will happen this time around.

    1. Author

      Quite correct – it happened for the first time in 2011, and then again in 2016. Let’s see what happens.

  5. NO it should not be. We small companies run at great loss already with too many public holidays already. If a holiday falls on a weekend, then tough. it one of those things. Those that say it should be just don’t want to work. Making it harder for others that do. Our country is already suffering and so many people are unemployed as it is. Those that don’t want to work then should stay at home and allow those that do. People strike for more money and cause our country already problems and now still want extra holidays.

  6. It should not be – we already have so many Public Holidays – this is the reason the economy and country is going down the drain.- and quickly too. Look at the number for small companies have gone into liquidation and still they want more Public Holidays. More unemployment etc.

  7. President has the discretionary powers to declare it as a public holiday, this goes back to 24 September, this year, Heritage Day was on a Saturday, those with executive powers should have declared a Monday 26th as a Holiday. 27th December should be declared as a holiday for this year.

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