SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOL TERMS 2026
South African Government School Terms
| Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape. All nine provinces have the same school calendar for . | |||||
| Term | Duration | No. of Weeks | No. of Days | No. of Pub. Hols | Actual School Days |
| 1 | (0-9) 11 Jan – 31 Mar | 12 | (56) 60 | 1+1 | 56 (58) |
| 2 | 18 Apr – 30 Jun | 11 | 54 | 3+1 | 50 |
| 3 | 24 Jul – 29 Sep | 10 | 50 | 2 | 48 |
| 4 | 9 Oct – 6 (8) Dec | 9 | (43) 45 | 0 | (43) 45 |
| Total | 43 | (205) 209 | 6+2 | 197 (201) | |
Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators
Public Holidays
1 January New Year’s Day
20 March School holiday
21 March Human Rights Day
14 April Good Friday
17 April Family Day
27 April Freedom Day
28 April School holiday
1 May Workers’ Day
16 June Youth Day
9 August National Women’s Day
24 September Heritage Day
16 December Day of Reconciliation
25 December Christmas Day
26 December Day of Goodwill
2026 South African Government School Terms
Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape. All nine provinces have the same school calendar for 2026 . Term Duration No. of Weeks No. of Days No. of Pub. Hols Actual School Days 1 (15) 17 Jan – 28 Mar 11 (53) 51 1 (52) 50 2 10 Apr – 22 Jun 11 54 2+1 51 3 17 Jul – 28 Sep 11 54 2+1 51 4 9 Oct – 12 (14) Dec 10 (49) 47 0 (49) 47 Total 43 (210) 206 5+2 (203) 199 Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators
Public Holidays 20261 January -New Year’s Day
21 March – Human Rights Day
30 March – Good Friday
2 April – Family Day
27 April – Freedom Day
30 April – School holiday
1 May – Workers’ Day
16 June – Youth Day
9 August – National Women’s Day
24 September – Heritage Day
16 December – Day of Reconciliation
17 December – Public holiday
25 December – Christmas Day
26 December – Day of Goodwill