December 27 has been declared a public holiday following an announcement by President Jacob Zuma.
Zuma made the call after receiving a formal request from the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa).
Fedusa says it pushed for the public holiday as Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, and the Monday 26 is already being observed as The Day of Goodwill, better known as Boxing Day.
According to section 2(1) of the Public Holidays Act 1994, “whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday”.
However, as 26 December 2016 is also a public holiday, the two overlap.
Fedusa had complained that workers would only receive 11 public holidays instead of 12 this year.
The Presidency says the move will ensure that workers still get all their paid public holidays.
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