he Companies That Pay You Double (or Triple) on Sundays & Public Holidays vs the Ones That Call It “Passion for the Brand” (Full Name-and-Shame + Name-and-Praise List – December 2025 Edition)
If you’re still working on a Sunday in 2026 and your payslip looks exactly the same as a Tuesday payslip, congratulations — you’ve been adopted by a company that thinks “passion” is a legal currency. Below is the most detailed, up-to-date breakdown of who actually pays proper overtime in South Africa right now and who treats the Basic Conditions of Employment Act like it’s a suggestion on the back of a cereal box.
The “We Pay Overtime Like Adults” Hall of Fame (Double or More – No Questions Asked)
1.Mining Sector (Anglo American Platinum, Sibanye Stillwater, Impala, Kumba, Exxaro)
Underground: 200–300 % on Sundays & public holidays
Surface: 150–200 %
Real example: Rigger earning R35k basic can clear R95k–R120k in December because of public holidays + weekend shifts.
2.SAPS, Metro Police & Traffic Officers
Double time (200 %) on Sundays & public holidays, guaranteed.
Night shift allowance + danger allowance on top.
December/January = many officers clear R80k–R120k gross.
3.Private Hospitals (Netcare, Life, Mediclinic, Lenmed, Busamed)
Nurses & support staff: 200 % Sundays, 300 % on Christmas/New Year.
One Netcare nurse in Joburg posted R114k gross for December 2024 (yes, screenshot exists).
4.Fidelity ADT, G4S Cash Solutions, Servest Security (armed response & cash-in-transit)
200–250 % on Sundays & public holidays + danger pay.
Top response officers clear R60k–R90k in festive season.
5.Eskom Power Station Staff (authorised level 7–12)
200 % + shift allowance.
Medupi & Kusile December runs = R100k + payslips are common.
6.Transnet Port Terminals (Durban, Cape Town, PE)
Lashers & crane drivers: 200–300 % on weekends.
One crane driver showed R138k gross for November 2025.
7.Shoprite/Checkers (distribution centres & certain stores that stay open)
DC workers: 200 % Sundays, 300 % public holidays.
December overtime can add R25k–R45k extra.
8.Pick n Pay & Spar DC workers
Same deal: 200–300 % if you volunteer for the festive shifts.
The “We Pay… But With Drama” Category (You’ll Get It Eventually)
9.Capitec, Discovery, Old Mutual, Nedbank
Overtime is pre-approved only and capped at 10 hours/week.
Still 150–200 % but you must beg via 47 forms.
10.Takealot Delivery Drivers & DC
Festive overtime paid at 150–200 %, but they schedule you so you can’t say no.
11.Mr Price, Pep, Ackermans (stores)
150–200 % but managers “encourage” you to take time-off in lieu in January.
The “Passion for the Brand” Criminals (Overtime? What Overtime?)
12.Most Clothing Retail Head Offices (Truworths, Foschini, Edgars side)
You’ll work till 10 pm for “year-end stock take” and get a R200 voucher and pizza.
13.Call Centres That Are Not Discovery
“We’re a family” = you work Christmas Eve and get told “thank you for your dedication”.
14.Certain Digital/Marketing Agencies
60–80 hour weeks are “part of the culture”. Overtime? They laugh in Canva.
15.Some Private Schools & Creches
Teachers work every Saturday and December holiday programme — paid your normal daily rate or “exposure”.
16.Restaurants & Shisanyamas (except the decent ones)
You open 7 am, close 2 am on New Year’s, get R300 cash and a dop.
17.Government Departments (non-uniform)
You’ll stay till 22h00 for “urgent submission” and get zero extra. Some even make you clock out at 16h30 and continue “off the record”.
The Legal Reminder (Because Your Boss “Forgot”)
- Sunday & public holiday work = minimum 200 % (double time) OR normal pay + a day off within 14 days
- Overtime Monday–Saturday = 150 %
- You cannot be forced to work more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period
- If your basic salary is above R254 371.67 per year (R21 197/month) in 2025, some rules don’t apply — but 90 % of us are below that threshold.
Quick 2026 Checklist Before You Accept That “Exciting Role”
- Ask in the interview: “How is overtime calculated and paid for Sundays/public holidays?”
- If they say “We give time off in lieu” or “It’s very rare” — run.
- If they look confused and say “What’s overtime?” — sprint.
Your time is literally money in 2026. Don’t let anyone guilt-trip you into working Christmas Day for a box of Beacon marshmallows and “exposure”.
Save this list. Send it to the group chat that keeps getting Sunday voice notes from the boss. And if you work at one of the top 8… please hire the rest of us for December. We’ll even work the double shifts — as long as the payslip cries happy tears.