The flag of South Africa, used from 1928 to 1994, holds a complex and controversial place in the nation's history. Officially adopted by the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1928, this flag served as the national symbol through significant periods, including the apartheid era. Its design, a blend of Dutch and British heraldry, aimed to represent unity between the Afrikaner and British populations. However, it became increasingly associated with the apartheid regime, leading to its eventual replacement in 1994 with a new flag that sought to represent all segments of South African society.
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). 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. After South Africa became a republic in 1961, the flag was retained as the national flag, despite the country having left the Commonwealth.
Following its retirement in 1994, the flag has been controversial within South Africa, with some people viewing it as historic and a symbol of Afrikaner heritage, while others view it as a symbol of apartheid and white supremacy.
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 as an unofficial flag. 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. 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.
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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. This was denounced by D. F. Malan, then the South African Minister of Home Affairs, who described the group of miniature flags "a scab..."
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.
The Flag's Design and Symbolism
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.
When South Africa became a republic outside the Commonwealth on 31 May 1961, the flag remained the same. 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. Prime Minister B. J.
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.
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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.
Controversies and Associations
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.
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. 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.
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.
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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.
The New National Flag of South Africa
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). 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.
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 new flag is unique in combining six colours; traditional flags had two or three colours, and some modern flags four or five colours. 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.
According to its designer Fred Bromnell - It is actually a combination of the two “Colonial era” flags - The national flag of the Netherlands (Dutch flag) - Red, White, Blue and the the British Union flag - Blue, White, Red. The V symbolises inclusion and unification. In essence it is another flag of “Union” (unity) only this time acknowledging the county’s Black population and its historical heritage.
The funny thing is the “New” (new) flag was only meant to be an interim one, hence the mash of historical South African flags.
The South African flag has become a strong emblem of democracy, diversity, and reconciliation. It is one of the most recognizable modern flags, symbolizing the country’s transition from division to unity.
Table of Flags: A Comparison
| Flag | Years of Use | Symbolism | Controversies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928-1994 | Union of Dutch and British heritage | Associated with apartheid and racial inequality | |
| 1994-Present | Unity and inclusion of all South Africans | Initially intended as an interim flag |
Hidden meaning behind the South Africa Flag
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