List of South African flags
History
Based on the history of South Africa, the country has evolved from colonial occupation to independence in 1994 since 1652. During this period this country has experienced three national flags representing three different political eras. The first era represents the Dutch East India company that was led by Jan van Riebeck as the first foreign occupiers. The second flag represents the era of the British settlements and the Dutch de facto (semi-autonomous) government in the Orange Free state and the Transvaal region. This period marks the entrenched apartheid era under the leadership of Henrick Vervoed. The third flag represents a free South Africa (post-apartheid) era. The current government that hoisted this flag on April 27, 1994 (South Africa’s Independence Day) was under the leadership of Mr. Nelson Mandela with two deputies, Mr. Willem De-Clerk and Mr. Thabo Mbeki. Here below is a brief historical background of the three flags.
National Flag - 1994 to Present
• The present design of the South African national flag was first flown on 27 April 1994, the same day as South Africa's first ever multiracial election. However, the flag was first commissioned as an interim flag only, and was decided upon at the very last minute, barely making it onto the nation's flagpoles in time for the election.
• In February 1994, Cyril Ramaphosa and Roelof Meyer, chief negotiators of the African National Congress and the National Party government of the day respectively, were given the task of resolving the flag issue. The proclamation of the new national flag was only published on 20 April 1994, a mere seven days before the flag was to be inaugurated, sparking a frantic last-minute flurry for flag manufacturers.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
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1994 – | Flag of South Africa | Two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y (pall), the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side (and follow the flag's diagonals). The Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands. |
National Flags - 1928 to 1994
• A further element of this compromise was that the Union Flag would continue to fly alongside the new South African national flag over official buildings.
• Following a referendum, the country became a republic on 31 May 1961, but the design of the flag remained unchanged. However, there was intense pressure to change the flag, particularly from Afrikaners who resented the fact that the Union Flag was a part of the flag.
• The former Prime Minister and architect of apartheid, Hendriek Verwoerd, had a dream to hoist a "clean" flag over South Africa in the 1960s. The proposed design comprised three vertical stripes of the same colour of the Prinsevlag with a leaping Springbok Antelope over a wreath of six proteas in the centre.
• Despite the flag's origins predating the National Party's ascension to power, the presence of the three little flags in the middle was internationally perceived as being an implied endorsement of apartheid
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
.svg) |
1928 - 1994 | Former National Flag of South Africa | Orange, white, and blue horizontal stripes. The South African addition to the design was three smaller flags centred in the white stripe. The smaller flags were the Union Flag towards the hoist, the Orange Free State Vierkleur hanging vertically and the Transvaal Vierkleur towards the fly |
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1910 - 1928 | South African Red Ensign | A British Red Ensign with the coat of arms of the Union of South Africa |
Historical Flags - 1652 to 1928
• A version of this flag was used as the flag of the Dutch East India Company at the Cape (with the VOC logo in the centre) from 1652 until 1795. The South African addition to the design was three smaller flags centred in the white stripe. The smaller flags were the Union Flag towards the hoist, the Orange Free State Vierkleur hanging vertically and the Transvaal Vierkleur towards the fly.
• the British Union Flag became the national flag of South Africa. The ensigns of red and blue color were not a representation of the national union of the country.
• A version of this flag was used as the flag of the Dutch East India Company at the Cape (with the VOC logo in the centre) from 1652 until 1795. The South African addition to the design was three smaller flags centred in the white stripe. The smaller flags were the Union Flag towards the hoist, the Orange Free State Vierkleur hanging vertically and the Transvaal Vierkleur towards the fly.
• the British Union Flag became the national flag of South Africa. The ensigns of red and blue color were not a representation of the national union of the country.
| Flag | Date | Use | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.png) |
1875 - 1910 | Flag of Cape Colony | A British Blue Ensign with the colony's coat of arms surrounded in a white circle }}
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