The flag of South Africa from 1928 to 1994 was the flag of the Union of South Africa from 1928 to 1961 and later the flag of the Republic of South Africa until 1994. It was also the flag for South West Africa (now Namibia) under the former's administration (from 1915 to 1990). This article primarily focuses on the flag used during this period.
Flag of South Africa (1928-1994)
Origins and Adoption
Before 31 May 1928, the only flag that had official status in the Union of South Africa was the United Kingdom's Union Jack, as South Africa was part of the British Empire. The South African "Red Ensign" was used unofficially as a de facto national flag until 1928; it continued being used sparsely in limited contexts until the early 1950s. In 1925, discussion rose about creating a new flag for South Africa as many descendants of Boers found the Union Jack unacceptable after the Second Boer War.
In 1926, the Balfour Declaration granted South Africa legislative autonomy, opening the possibility of a new flag. British South Africans wanted the Union Jack in the new flag as part of the British Empire while the Afrikaners did not. The majority British Natal Province threatened to secede from the Union if the Union Jack was removed. It was adopted in 1928 by an act of Parliament from the first Afrikaner majority government, as a compromise between the Afrikaner and British populations.
A compromise was reached whereby the new flag would consist of the Prinsenvlag as this was the first flag raised on South Africa and a badge in the centre consisting of the Union Jack with the flags of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic. The Union Jack was mirrored in the new flag with the hoist on the right so that it did not take precedence over the others.
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In 1927, the Afrikaner-majority Parliament of South Africa passed the Union Nationality and Flag Act, which stated that the Union Jack and the new flag of the Union of South Africa were to have equal status as the flag of South Africa.
Evolution and Attempts at Change
When South Africa became a republic outside the Commonwealth on 31 May 1961, the flag remained the same. In 1948, after their election victory, the National Party unsuccessfully tried to amend the flag design. The Afrikaner voting majority disliked the flag retaining the Union Jack in the centre. Repeated calls were made for it to be removed or for a new flag but no action was taken by the ruling National Party until 1968.
In 1968, Prime Minister John Vorster proposed that a new national flag for South Africa be adopted in 1971 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the declaration of a republic. However, Vorster's idea did not gain parliamentary support and the flag change never happened.
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Usage and Symbolism
The flag was treated with respect by Afrikaners, with daily flag salutes in schools. It was also used as part of celebrations of the inauguration of the State President. The flag even had an ode dedicated to it, "Vlaglied" (English: "Flag Song"), written by Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven and composed by F.J. Due to variances in manufacturing, many flags were manufactured with their blue a dark shade akin to that found on the flag of the UK, as many early flags were made in the UK.
Association with Apartheid and Controversy
Despite the flag's origins and adoption pre-dating the National Party's ascension to power by twenty years, the flag gradually became associated with the apartheid regime. Movements like the Black Sash and uMkhonto we Sizwe started protesting against it with their own symbols.
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After 1989, F. W. de Klerk became the last State President of South Africa and immediately unbanned the African National Congress (ANC) and released their leader, Nelson Mandela, from prison. De Klerk instigated negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa with Mandela's ANC. The negotiations led to the 1992 South African apartheid referendum where the white part of the South African populace (all other groups still being disenfranchised) voted to end apartheid.
The referendum decision resulted in the International Rugby Football Board allowing the South African rugby team to play test matches again. The ANC agreed to endorse the team on the condition that the flag not be used to represent South Africa.
The New Flag of South Africa (1994)
In 1994, the State Herald of South Africa, Fred Brownell, was approached to design a new national flag for South Africa to replace the flag in time for the first elections after apartheid. A public competition was held for the design of the new National flag. With the country’s first democratic elections approaching, 74-year-old Fred Brownell was asked to design a new national flag - quickly! He had one week to do it. Its first official appearance was at the presidential inauguration on May 10, 1994. The design of South Africa’s new flag represented the unification of the diverse nation into one democratic state.
New Flag of South Africa (since 1994)
The national flag was designed by a former South African State Herald, Mr Fred Brownell, and was first used on 27 April 1994. The design and colours are a synopsis of principal elements of the country's flag history. Individual colours, or colour combinations represent different meanings for different people and therefore no universal symbolism should be attached to any of the colours. The central design of the flag, beginning at the flagpost in a 'V' form and flowing into a single horizontal band to the outer edge of the fly, can be interpreted as the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity. The theme of convergence and unity ties in with the motto Unity is Strength of the previous South African Coat of Arms.
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The South African flag is to be displayed horizontally with the black triangle to the left and the red band on the top or vertically (rotated 90 degrees and reversed) with the black triangle at the top and the red band to the left. When the flag is displayed vertically against a wall, the red band should be to the left of the viewer with the hoist or the cord seam at the top. When it is displayed horizontally, the hoist should be to the left of the viewer and the red band at the top. When the flag is displayed next to or behind the speaker at a meeting, it must be placed to the speaker's right. When it is placed elsewhere in the meeting place, it should be to the right of the audience.
Post-1994 Status and Controversy
Following its official retirement as the flag of South Africa, the flag was adopted by some white South Africans as being a symbol of Afrikaner heritage and history. Many South Africans still view it as a symbol of apartheid and therefore have strongly discouraged its use.
Despite the negative associations, it was never banned by the Government of South Africa post-1994, and the right to display it in South Africa was protected under Chapter Two of the Constitution of South Africa as an expression of free speech until 2019. In the 21st century, the flag experienced use as a symbol by white supremacists in and outside South Africa.
A particular awareness of this followed the shooting of black parishioners at a Charleston, South Carolina church in 2015, as the perpetrator, Dylann Roof, had previously been pictured wearing a jacket with two flag patches of the flag and the flag of white-ruled Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) attached on it. This association with apartheid and racism often led to calls for the flags that were used in a historical context to be removed from display.
At Cape Town's Castle of Good Hope, the flag was flown from the castle alongside the Union Jack, flag of the Netherlands and the current flag of South Africa to display the powers that ruled South Africa through history. In 1994, it was agreed that they would remain on the castle parapet as historical reference.
The flag was declared illegal for public display in South Africa in August 2019, when the Equality Court classified it as hate speech, with heavy enforcing penalties. Exceptions were made for academic, journalistic & artistic expression and museums & places of historical interest.
Flag Proportions: 2:3
| Flag | Years of Use | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1928-1994 | The flag of the Union of South Africa and later the Republic of South Africa, featuring the Prinsenvlag, Union Jack, and flags of the Orange Free State and South African Republic. | |
| 1994-present | The current national flag of South Africa, designed by Fred Brownell, symbolizing the convergence of diverse elements within South African society. |
