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In-person meetings & travel
Johannesburg
South Africa · Africa/Johannesburg · UTC+2
Johannesburg is South Africa's commercial capital and the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa.
Current time in Johannesburg
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Next public holiday
Youth Day
Tuesday, June 16, 2026— in 2 days
Business hours & meeting culture
- Working hours
- 08:00–17:00
- Workweek
- Monday to Friday
- Culture
- South African business is professional and English-speaking, with regional and cultural diversity. Meetings are punctual in corporate settings.
- Meeting tips
- December (especially mid-December onward) is a major vacation period in the Southern Hemisphere summer. Easter is also widely observed.
Travel & logistics context
Quick reference for business travelers — climate, currency, and language.Currency and language are country-level. Climate may vary across the country.
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Climate
Subtropical highland
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Avoid: Jun–Aug (cold dry winter), Dec–Feb (thunderstorms)
🔴 Currently a tough month
Highveld at 1750m; warm days, cool nights year-round.
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Currency
R
ZAR
South African Rand
Cards widely accepted.
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Language
Official
11 official
In business
English (de facto)
English: Widely spoken in business
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Plug & voltage
M/N/C/D
type230V · 50Hz
Type M is the older South African standard; type N is being rolled out.
See plug types ↗🤝Business etiquette
- Greeting
- Firm handshake; African handshake variations in some communities.
- Cards
- Standard exchange.
- Gifts
- Not typical at business meetings.
- Tipping
- 10–15% standard at restaurants.
- Dress
- Smart business; conservative for senior meetings.
- Dining
- Braai (barbecue) culture extends into informal business hospitality.
Time difference vs. major business cities
Computed for 2026. Daylight saving will shift these by an hour during transitions.
| City | Time zone | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 🇯🇵Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | +7h |
| 🇮🇳Mumbai | Asia/Kolkata | +3h 30m |
| 🇦🇪Dubai | Asia/Dubai | +2h |
| 🇬🇧London | Europe/London | -1h |
| 🇺🇸New York | America/New_York | -6h |
| 🇦🇺Sydney | Australia/Sydney | +8h |
| 🇺🇸San Francisco | America/Los_Angeles | -9h |
| 🇨🇳Shanghai | Asia/Shanghai | +6h |
Public holidays in South Africa, 2026
Commonly observed national holidays. Regional holidays and bridge days are not included. See also the global holiday calendar.
- 2026-01-01
- 2026-03-21
- 2026-04-03
- 2026-04-06
- 2026-04-27
- 2026-05-01
- 2026-06-16
- 2026-08-10
- 2026-09-24
- 2026-12-16
- 2026-12-25
- 2026-12-26
Plan a meeting with Johannesburg
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