Source: IOL (Independent Online). The ANC, South Africa's ruling party, in preparation for its June policy conference, is considering the addition of public holidays for each of the following religions: Hindu, Muslim and Jewish. The 3 holidays being considered are, respectively: Diwali, Eid ul-Fitr, and Yom Kippur. Christmas Day, and Easter Sunday would be the holidays allotted to the Christian faith.To compensate for these 3 new public holidays, and placate the business community which is opposed to the addition of new public holidays, there are 2 possible solutions being discussed. The first option would be to do away with Good Friday and/or Easter Monday (called "Family Day", in South Africa). The second option would be to cancel the automatic moving of public holidays that fall on a Sunday, to the next Monday.
Analysis: The June timing of the ANC's policy conference, and the 2007 timing of the holidays whose addition and deletion is being considered, makes for a particularly painless process (for voters), if it were to be adopted in 2007, as the Easter-related public holidays that are being considered for cancellation will both have already occurred in April, while the new holidays would immediately come into effect, nicely fanned-out; one in September (Yom Kippur), one in October (Eid ul Fitr), and one in November (Diwali). We will continue to monitor developments.
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