Calculate a Deadline
Your calculated deadline will appear here. Day 1 begins the day after the start date. Court days exclude weekends, public holidays, and applicable dies non periods per SA court rules.
High Court — governing rules
Uniform Rules of Court (GN R48/1965)
Time computed in court days (Rule 1). Dies non applies in the Dec/Jan recess per division practice directives.
South African public holidays — 2026
Declared under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Sunday holidays are observed on the following Monday.
- New Year's DayThu, 01 Jan
- Human Rights DaySat, 21 Mar
- Good FridayFri, 03 Apr
- Family DayMon, 06 Apr
- Freedom DayMon, 27 Apr
- Workers' DayFri, 01 May
- Youth DayTue, 16 Jun
- National Women's DaySun, 09 Aug
- National Women's Day (observed)Mon, 10 Aug
- Heritage DayThu, 24 Sept
- Day of ReconciliationWed, 16 Dec
- Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec
- Day of GoodwillSat, 26 Dec
Court days
Weekends and gazetted South African public holidays are skipped. Day 1 is the first qualifying day after the start date.
Dies non
The recess period during which time does not run for action (16 Dec – 15 Jan) or application (21 Dec – 7 Jan) proceedings.
Disclaimer
This tool is a guide only and does not constitute legal advice. Always confirm deadlines against the applicable rules of court.
Legal Basis & Citations
The calculations follow the rules and statutes below. Always consult the current gazetted text and, where relevant, a legal practitioner.
Uniform Rules of Court
GN R48 of 12 January 1965, as amended
Rule 1 — defines “court day” as any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, and provides that only court days are counted in computing time expressed in days.
Rule 4A — service of subsequent documents.
Dies non (action proceedings): the period between 16 December and 15 January (both inclusive) is not counted for the delivery of pleadings in actions — see the definition of “court day” read with Rule 26 and the practice directives of the divisions.
Dies non (application proceedings): under Rule 6(5)(b) read with the recess directives, the period 21 December to 7 January (both inclusive) is excluded from the calculation of the notice period in motion proceedings.
Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013
Governs the Constitutional Court, SCA, and High Court
Provides the statutory framework for the superior courts and the power to make the Uniform Rules of Court.
Section 8 — rules regulating the conduct of proceedings.
Public holidays are those declared under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday.
Magistrates' Courts Rules
GN R740 of 23 August 2010, as amended
Rule 2 — defines “court day” on the same basis as the Uniform Rules and provides that only court days are counted in computing days for any process.
Rule 9 — service of process.
Rule 55 — applications, including notice periods that run in court days.
Magistrates' Courts Act 32 of 1944
Enabling Act for the Magistrates' Courts
Establishes the Magistrates' Courts and empowers the Rules Board for Courts of Law to make the Magistrates' Courts Rules that govern procedure and time computation.
Constitutional Court
Rules of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Established by Chapter 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
Rule 1 — defines “court day” on the same basis as the Uniform Rules (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays).
Time periods for filings, appeals and applications are computed in court days unless the Rules or a court order otherwise provides.
Supreme Court of Appeal
Rules of the Supreme Court of Appeal
Governs appeals and applications for leave to appeal, with the Supreme Court of Appeal constituted under the Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013.
Rule 1 — defines “court day” as any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.
Applications for leave and appeals are computed in court days per the SCA practice directives and annual recess notice.
Labour Court
Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 & Rules of the Labour Court
The Labour Court is established by section 151 of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 and operates under the Rules of the Labour Court.
Rule 1 — defines “court day” on the same basis as the Uniform Rules, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Procedural periods generally run in court days, with service and time computation governed by the Labour Court practice manual and annual recess directives.
Sources: Uniform Rules of Court (GN R48/1965); Rules of the Constitutional Court; Rules of the Supreme Court of Appeal; Rules of the Labour Court; Magistrates' Courts Rules (GN R740/2010); Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013; Magistrates' Courts Act 32 of 1944; Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995; Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about computing court and calendar deadlines in South Africa.
+What is a court day in South Africa?
Under Rule 1 of the Uniform Rules of Court a 'court day' means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, and only court days are reckoned when computing time expressed in days. Rule 2 of the Magistrates' Courts Rules adopts the same definition for the lower courts.
+What is dies non and when does it apply?
Dies non is the recess period during which time does not run against a litigant. For action proceedings the dies non runs from 16 December to 15 January inclusive; for application proceedings the dies non runs from 21 December to 7 January inclusive, as reflected in Rule 1(1) of the Uniform Rules of Court read with the annual practice directives of each Division of the High Court.
+Does day 1 start on the trigger date or the next day?
The trigger date itself is excluded. Day 1 is the first court day (or calendar day) after the trigger date, in line with the common-law rule civiliter computatio — the day of the act is excluded and the day of performance included — which the Constitutional Court affirmed in Minister of Home Affairs v Liebenberg 2002 (1) SA 33 (CC).
+Which courts does this calculator support?
The Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, High Court, Labour Court and Magistrates' Courts. Each computes time in court days under its own rules — the Constitutional Court Rules, the SCA Rules, the Uniform Rules of Court (High Court), the Rules of the Labour Court under the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, and the Magistrates' Courts Rules under the Magistrates' Courts Act 32 of 1944.
+Which public holidays are excluded?
All public holidays gazetted under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 — New Year's Day, Human Rights Day, Good Friday, Family Day, Freedom Day, Workers' Day, Youth Day, National Women's Day, Heritage Day, Day of Reconciliation, Christmas Day and Day of Goodwill. Section 2(1) of the Act provides that whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday, and that Monday is also excluded from court-day computation.
+Can I calculate backwards from a deadline?
Yes. Set the direction to 'backward' to count court days or calendar days backwards from a fixed date — useful for working out the latest day on which a notice, affidavit or heads of argument must be filed to meet a hearing date, for example the five court days' notice required by Rule 6(5)(b) of the Uniform Rules of Court in opposed motion practice.
+Is the result legal advice?
No. The calculator is a computational aid based on the current rules of court and gazetted public holidays. Always verify critical deadlines against the applicable rules, the practice directives of the Division or court concerned, and any court order regulating timing.
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