The national flag of South Africa consists of a horizontally oriented Y-shape (known in heraldry as a pall) in green, with yellow (gold) and white borders, separating sections of red and blue and a black hoist triangle. The flag’s width-to-length ratio is 2 to 3.
The design of South Africa’s new flag represented the unification of the diverse nation into one democratic state.
Historical Context
The two major European populations in South Africa, the Dutch (now Afrikaners) and the English, brought flags whose use persisted until 1994. The orange-white-blue tricolour of the 17th-century Netherlands was the basis for the national flag officially hoisted on May 31, 1928, by the Union of South Africa. The British Union Jack and the flags of the Transvaal and Orange Free State were added to the centre of that flag.
Absent was any symbol for the overwhelming majority of the population, black Africans, or for the country’s Coloured (mixed-race) and Indian inhabitants.
The End of Apartheid and the Need for a New Flag
The end of the apartheid era was marked by the universal-suffrage democratic elections of April 1994, which resulted in a strong victory for supporters of the African National Congress (ANC). Many whites had feared that the black-green-yellow horizontal tricolour of the ANC, representing black Africans, the land, and mineral wealth, would be made the national flag. Instead, the new flag hoisted on April 27 was a compromise in design and colours intended to represent and reassure all segments of the population.
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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 and Symbolism
Designed by state herald Frederick Brownell, it has as its principal symbol a Y-shape symbolizing the “converging of paths…merging history and present political realities” into a common determination to create a united and prosperous future.
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.
The new flag is unique in combining six colours; traditional flags had two or three colours, and some modern flags four or five colours. Individual colours, or colour combinations represent different meanings for different people and therefore no universal symbolism should be attached to any of the colours.
South Africa Flag Explained - History, and meaning
The flag colours could be related to various groups-red-white-blue for English people and Afrikaners, green for Muslims, black-green-yellow for ANC supporters, red-white-black-green-yellow for Zulus, and so on.
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Displaying the Flag
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.
Flag Facts
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Designer | Fred Brownell |
| First Used | April 27, 1994 |
| Colors | Black, green, yellow, white, red, blue |
| Symbolism | Unity, diversity, convergence of paths |
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