Reserve Bank announces festive season trading and settlement closures | Law-Order

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has informed market participants about changes to its trading and settlement operations during the upcoming festive season. The SARB will be closed for trading and settlement on December 16th, 25th, and 26th, 2025, and January 1st, 2026, due to public holidays. All open market and foreign exchange transactions have been scheduled to mature and settle on official business days to prevent disruptions. Settlement will not occur via the South African Multiple Option Settlement (SAMOS) system on the specified dates, and banks are urged to plan liquidity accordingly.

Adjusted operating hours for the foreign exchange desk are also in effect, closing at 12:00 midday on December 24th and December 31st, 2025. However, domestic money market operations will continue as normal, with positions closing at 16:55 on those dates. These measures align with standard festive season practices and aim to maintain orderly market functioning.

Market participants can contact Provia Mangoedi at +27 12 313 4952 or Andries Tshishonga at +27 12 313 4950 for any queries. The SARB encourages all institutions to note the holiday schedule and adjusted hours to ensure smooth settlement processes.

(Source：Devdiscourse)