As the calendar turns to November, many people around the world are preparing to adjust their clocks once again.
On Sunday, 2 November 2025, Daylight Saving Time (DST) will officially end, meaning clocks will go back by one hour in several countries, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere.
The change will occur at 02:00 local time (09:00 SAST), marking the return to standard time for the next few months.
Daylight Saving Time is a system used by some countries to make better use of daylight during the longer days of spring and summer. The idea is simple: by setting the clock forward by one hour in spring, people can enjoy more daylight in the evening.
When autumn arrives and the days begin to shorten, the clocks are moved back by one hour to return to normal or “standard” time.
In the Northern Hemisphere — which includes North America, most of Europe, and parts of the Middle East — this change signals the start of shorter days and longer nights.
People in the United States, Canada, and most of Europe will gain an extra hour of sleep when clocks go back.
In the United Kingdom, for example, the change means that sunrise will occur earlier in the morning, but sunset will also happen earlier in the evening.
The opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere, where countries like Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America are currently observing the start of their Daylight Saving period.
In these regions, clocks are moved forward by one hour in early October to take advantage of longer summer days.
In South Africa, however, Daylight Saving Time is not observed. The country remains on South Africa Standard Time (SAST), which is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+2), all year round.
This means that while many other countries will be adjusting their clocks, time in South Africa will stay exactly the same.
This global shift does, however, affect how South Africans manage international communication, business, and travel.
For instance, when the United Kingdom reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the time difference between London and Johannesburg increases from one hour to two.
Similarly, New York, which is usually six hours behind South Africa during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, becomes seven hours behind after the change.
While Daylight Saving Time was originally introduced to save energy by reducing the need for artificial lighting in the evenings, many experts argue that its modern benefits are limited.
Some studies suggest that any energy savings are offset by increased use of heating or air conditioning, depending on the season. As a result, several countries — including Japan, China, and most of Africa — have chosen not to adopt the system.
In total, around 70 countries around the world still use some form of Daylight Saving Time. The European Union has discussed ending the seasonal clock change entirely, but no formal decision has been implemented yet.
So, if you live in a region that observes DST, remember: when the clock strikes 02:00 on Sunday, 2 November 2025 (09:00 SAST), set your clock back one hour — and enjoy a little extra sleep as winter approaches.
