Here's how that works. The gazette and the Act turn a week into a month at about 4.333 weeks, so R12,000 divided by 4.333 and then by 45 gives R61.54 an hour. Time and a half is R92.31, and 10 hours make R923.15. If you earn the minimum wage of R30.23 an hour, 5 overtime hours bring in R226.73.
What rate applies to which hours?
These come from the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and your contract can give you more but not less.
- Overtime: at least one and a half times your wage
- Sunday: double your wage for each hour, or one and a half times if you normally work Sundays
- Public holiday that's a normal working day: at least double your daily wage, or your daily wage plus pay for the time you worked if that's more
- Public holiday that isn't a normal working day for you: your daily wage plus pay for the work you do
- Public holiday you don't work, on a normal working day: your normal pay for that day
How much overtime can I be asked to work?
Overtime needs your agreement. It can't go over 10 hours a week, and you can't be made to work more than 12 hours on any day. A collective agreement can raise the weekly limit to 15 hours, and the Western Cape Government's summary says only for two months in any 12. You can also agree to paid time off in place of overtime pay.
Work on a public holiday also needs your agreement.
Does the law cover me?
If you earn more than R269,600.90 a year (R22,466.74 a month) from 1 May 2026, sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17(2) and 18(3) of the Act don't apply to you. That covers ordinary hours, overtime, meal breaks, rest periods, Sunday pay, night work pay and pay for a public holiday you wouldn't normally work, so your contract decides those. Section 18(2), at least double pay for working a public holiday that's a normal working day for you, isn't on that list. Earnings here mean regular pay before deductions, without transport and subsistence allowances, achievement awards or overtime pay.
The chapter on hours also leaves out senior managers, sales staff who travel to customers and set their own hours, and people working under 24 hours a month for an employer.
Which public holidays are left in 2026?
16 December, 25 December and 26 December. A public holiday that falls on a Sunday moves to the Monday, which happens on 21 March 2027 (observed on 22 March).
Questions people ask
How do I work out my hourly rate from a monthly salary?
Divide your monthly pay by 4.333 to get a week, then by your weekly hours. On R12,000 and 45 hours that's R61.54. If your contract says 40 hours, type 40: R12,000 gives R69.24 an hour.
What is the overtime threshold in South Africa for 2026?
R269,600.90 a year from 1 May 2026, as printed in figures and words in Gazette 54544. A press statement of 21 April 2026 printed R269,900.90, but the signed gazette is the law, so we use that.
Do I get extra for working on Saturday?
Saturday isn't special in the Act. Saturday hours count towards your 45 ordinary hours, and hours above your agreed week are overtime. Your contract or a sector rule may give more.
Is overtime taxed?
Yes. It's part of your pay, so PAYE applies to it. This tool shows the amount before tax.
Sources
Checked 2 November 2026.