Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma has declared December 27 this year a public holiday, the presidency announced on Monday.
Zuma said the declaration followed a request from the Federation of Unions of South Africa who complained that workers would only have 11 public holidays instead of 12 because Christmas Day this year falls on a Sunday.
Ordinarily when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday would be a public holiday. The Monday after Christmas is however another public holiday, the Day of Goodwill, meaning the two public holidays would overlap.
“The declaration of the 27th December as a public holiday will ensure that workers are not unduly disadvantaged because of this unusual event and are still entitled to their 12 paid public holidays,” the presidency said.
African News Agency