Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in South Africa (2026)
Employees in South Africa get at least 15 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (3 weeks). Sick leave: paid.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
High confidenceYour number
15 days a year (120 hours)
Statutory minimum 15 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
This is the legal floor for South Africa; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 15 days | 3 weeks |
21 consecutive days per annual leave cycle, which is 15 working days on a 5-day week (Basic Conditions of Employment Act s. 20).
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 15 days a year.
What the rules mean in practice
In South Africa, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 15 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 3 weeks.
In South Africa, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 15 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 3 weeks. The legal wording: 21 consecutive days per annual leave cycle, which is 15 working days on a 5-day week (Basic Conditions of Employment Act s. 20).
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 17, the same as 2 and lower than 18. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 15 days is about 5.8% of a 260-day working year.
No service-based step is recorded here, so the 15-day minimum applies at every length of service; the official source has the full rule.
Public holidays are in addition to annual leave. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for South Africa lists 13 holidays, 11 of them on working days. An employee who has all 11 weekday holidays off on top of the 15-day minimum is away from work on at least 26 weekdays in 2026.
Sick leave: 30 days of paid sick leave per 36-month cycle for a 5-day week (1 day per 26 worked in the first 6 months). LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
Public holidays are in addition to annual leave. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for South Africa, with .ics downloads.
Sources
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in South Africa
The statutory minimum is 15 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (3 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in South Africa?
The statutory minimum is 15 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (3 weeks). 21 consecutive days per annual leave cycle, which is 15 working days on a 5-day week (Basic Conditions of Employment Act s. 20).
Does annual leave increase with length of service in South Africa?
No service-based step is recorded here for South Africa: the statutory minimum stays at 15 days a year. Check the official source for the full rule.
Is sick leave paid in South Africa?
Yes. 30 days of paid sick leave per 36-month cycle for a 5-day week (1 day per 26 worked in the first 6 months).
Are public holidays part of annual leave in South Africa?
Public holidays are in addition to annual leave. In 2026 the calendar for South Africa has 13 public holidays, 11 of them on working days.