Cape Town - The number of public holidays in April and May are taking their toll on businesses and schools.
From March 21 (Human Rights Day) to election day on May 7, school pupils will have had 14 days off, including the autumn holidays. Schools will be closed all of next week although only two days are public holidays.
Professor Maureen Robinson, the dean of education at Stellenbosch University, said that in general the large number of school holidays could negatively affect pupils and teachers by breaking the continuity of the school programme.
“However, it is hoped schools have planned around these public holidays, and have found ways to minimise the disruption. It does cause problems, though, and it is a pity that so many public holidays come at once.”
Dieter von Finkel, a professor of economics at Stellenbosch, said public holidays should be re-evaluated.
“In Asiatic countries, there are 15 to 16 public holidays a year, but they have fewer leave days and those are extremely high production economies. In South Africa production is already sluggish, so we shouldn’t have the amount of holidays we do.”
Janine Myburgh, the managing director at the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “The same work has to be done in less time in the event that the business is closed on the public holidays. The fixed costs remain, but your profits decrease because you have fewer working days.” - Cape Argus