Public holiday

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has declared December 27 this year a public holiday. This was announced by the presidency yesterday.

Zuma said the declaration followed a request from the Federation of Unions of South Africa who complained that workers would have only 11 public holidays instead of 12 because Christmas day this year falls on a Sunday.

Ordinarily when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday would be a public holiday. The Monday after Christmas is however another public holiday, the Day of Goodwill, meaning the two public holidays would overlap.

“The declaration of December 27 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.” – ANA