South African School Terms and Public Holidays 2023

Date: January 4, 2023 | Posted in News | Newsletters | Public Holidays & School Terms

South Africa has two different school calendars – for the government schools which breaks the year into four terms, and for the private schools which breaks the year into three or four terms. The vast majority attend government schools, so traffic at holiday destinations is busiest when they are on holiday. All schools are on holiday during Christmas and New Year which is the longest holiday break, being summer. For visitors wishing to visit South Africa in summer, and who want to miss the holiday rush, November or January, from the school opening date onwards is perfect.

Government Schools 2023 School Terms:

All nine provinces have the same school calendar for 2023.

Inland Cluster:

A breakdown of School Calendar Days for Public Schools

Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators.

Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West Provinces

Duration	Number of Weeks	Number of Days	Number Of Public Holidays	The Actual number of School Days
(9) 11 January – 24 March	11	53 (55)	1+1	51(53)
12 April – 23 June	11	53	3+1	49
18 July – 29 September	11	54	2	52
10 October – 13 December (15) December	10	47 (49)	0	47 (49)
Total	43	207 (211)	6+2	199 (203)

Coastal Cluster:

A breakdown of School Calendar Days for Public Schools

Dates and days in brackets ( ) are applicable to educators.

Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Northern Cape, and Western Cape Provinces

Duration	Number of Weeks	Number of Days	Number Of Public Holidays	The Actual number of School Days
(16) 18 January – 31 March	11	53 (55)	1+1	51(53)
12 April – 23 June	11	53	3+1	49
18 July – 29 September	11	54	2	52
10 October – 13 December (15) December	10	47 (49)	0	47 (49)
Total	43	207 (211)	6+2	199 (203)

Public and School Holidays 2023

01 January	New Year’s Day	01 May	Workers’ Day
02 January	Public Holiday	16 June	Youth Day
20 March	Special School Holiday	09 August	National Women’s Day
21 March	Human Rights Day	24 September	Heritage Day
07 April	Good Friday	25 September	Public Holiday
10 April	Family Day	16 December	Day of Reconciliation
27 April	Freedom Day	25 December	Christmas Day
28 April	Special School Holiday	26 December	Day of Goodwill

Source: South African Government Website

School Terms for Independent Schools in South Africa 2023

Please note: Only Public Holidays falling during term time are shown on this calendar.

Also, note that this calendar is only a guideline. Central Region member schools are not required to follow these dates and individual schools may vary their calendars to cater for specific requirements.

There are no universal term dates or calendars that apply to all independent schools in South Africa.

Many independent schools follow the public school calendar, while others follow the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA) calendar.

Some independent schools follow their own specific calendars.

The calendar committee of the ISASA Central Region (Gauteng, Free State, North West, and Northern Cape) publishes a Central Region Calendar as a guideline for member schools in the region. ISASA member schools in Central Region are not required to follow this calendar, although many do.

Dates may vary slightly in different provinces and for different schools. Check with your school.

Source – Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA)

4 TERM CALENDAR

Term 1 (48 days)
Start	Wednesday 11 January	Close	Friday 17 March

Term 2 (49 days)
Start	Wednesday 12 April
Close	Friday 23 June
Public Holidays	Thursday 27 April (Freedom Day)
	Friday 28 April (School holiday)
	Monday 1 May (Workers’ Day)
	Friday 16 June (Youth Day)

Term 3 (48 days)
Tuesday 18 July
Friday 22 September
Wednesday 9 August (Women’s Day)

Term 4 (42 days)
Start	Tuesday 10 October
Close	Wednesday 6 December

Total 187 days and 8 Saturdays

3 TERM CALENDAR

Term 1 (58 days)
Start	Wednesday 11 January
Close	Thursday 6 April
Half Term	Close	Thursday 23 February (12h00)
	Return	Tuesday 28 February
Public Holidays	Monday 20 March (School holiday)
	Tuesday 21 March (Human Rights Day)

Term 2 (64 days)
Start	Wednesday 3 May
Close	Tuesday 8 August
Half Term	Close	Friday 23 June (normal time)
	Return	Monday 3 July
Public Holidays	Friday 16 June (Youth Day)

Term 3 (63 days)
Start	Wednesday 6 September
Close	Wednesday 6 December
Half Term	Close	Thursday 26 October (12h00)
	Return	Tuesday 31 October