Flag of south africa

Flag of south africa
Vexillological symbol :	?
Aspect ratio:	2: 3
Officially accepted:	April 27, 1994

The individual colors of today's flag of South Africa represent on the one hand the different population groups of the country, on the other hand they represent the history. With the entry into force of the new constitution on April 27, 1994, the Republic of South Africa got this new national flag .

history

The flag was designed by Fred Brownell.

symbolism

When the new flag was introduced, an explanation of the symbolism of the colors was deliberately left out, this should be left to the viewer. The central converging green stripe in the form of a lying Y symbolizes the newly found unity of the country after the end of apartheid . “Unity is strength” is also the flag's motto. The green also stands for the land itself and for hope.

Interpretation of the colors

Red, white and blue were the colors of the former colonial powers Great Britain and the Netherlands as well as the white population, the Boers . Another interpretation is that the red stands for the blood that was shed during the liberation struggles; the blue for the two oceans and the sky and the white for the white population and for peace. Black, green and yellow are among the Pan-African colors and are the colors of many African movements, such as the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party . The black can stand for the black majority of the population, the green for the natural wealth and the yellow (or gold) for the wealth of natural resources.

Flag use

Respect for the flag

Raised flag of South Africa

2: 3 ^? Naval war flag of South Africa

South African law requires that the flag be treated with dignity and respect at all times. The regulations regarding the use of the flag were published a few days before the flag was officially adopted. Official ordinances regulate, among other things, that the flag must never touch the ground, it must not be misused as a tablecloth or curtain and that it must not cover any statues, plaques, memorial stones, etc. at openings or similar ceremonies. Furthermore, it may not be used as a start or checkered flag in competitions, races or similar occasions, for manufacture and use as underwear, bath or floor mat or any similar use. It is also forbidden to use it in commercial advertising if it disfigures the flag or makes it appear disrespectful. The permission of the President of South Africa is required for the production and reproduction of the flag in any form.

Traditional flag rules

There are a number of traditional rules for the use and display of the flag that should be followed. The official traditions say that the flag is hoisted at the beginning of the day and brought down again before or at sunset. The flag does not fly at night unless it is properly lit. These rules are still valid in South Africa to this day for all state flagpoles, while the flag usually remains hoisted around the clock outside this area of ​​influence. The flag should also be hoisted quickly and brought down in a ceremonial manner. Furthermore, every person who happens to be present when the flag is raised or lowered should stop their previous activity, stop and respectfully turn to the flag for the duration of the ceremony. Headgear should be removed and held over the heart in the right hand to greet the flag. Uniformed persons should adopt an attitude as described in their service regulations. The flag should never be displayed or hoisted upside down as this is the traditional symbol of distress.

When the display is horizontal, the black triangle is on the left and the red stripe is on top. In the case of the vertical display, the flag is not only simply rotated by 90 °, but also mirrored. The South African flag has the black triangle on top and the red stripe on the left. It is an insult if the flag is frayed or dirty. This also applies to the flagpoles, which should always be in good condition. The flag must never be defaced by text on the flag itself.

Representation with other national flags

When the flag is displayed outside with other national flags, several rules must be observed. The South African flag is on the far right edge (on the left as viewed from the viewer). The other national flags are affixed from right to left in alphabetically ascending order of the country name. These should all be about the same size, but none may be larger than the South African flag. Furthermore, each flag has its own mast, no flag may be over another flag on the same mast. The flag of South Africa must always be hoisted first and brought down last. When the flagpoles are crossed, the South African flag is either in the front or on the right (left when viewed from the viewer).

Representation with other flags

If the South African flag is presented together with other flags (e.g. advertising or company flags), it is a requirement that the national flag is either in front or on the left as seen from the viewer. For a group of flagpoles, the South African flag must be the largest or the flagpole must be in front of the group. If the flags are placed one above the other on a flagpole, the national flag must be above the other flags. When moving with other flags, the national flag must be carried at the head of the train. If the flags are carried on both sides of the parade, the South African flag must be worn on the right side of the train.

Representation of the flag in buildings

In any case, when displaying the national flag inside buildings, the right (left as viewed from the viewer) side should be selected, since the right is considered to be the authoritarian side. It must therefore always be placed on the right side of a speaker or, if this is not possible, on the right side of the audience. The national flag should preferably be shown fully expanded with the red stripe on top. When hanging vertically on the wall behind the lectern, make sure that the black triangle is at the top and the red stripe is on the left.

Half mast

The setting at half-mast as a mourning sign may only be made on the instructions of the President. It also sets the end of the mourning period. If the flag is to be hoisted to half-mast, the flag is first hoisted fully and then slowly lowered at half-height. If the flag is retrieved shortly before sunset or on any other occasion, the flag is first fully raised again and then fully retrieved. Other flags (such as company flags) are not hoisted at half mast during the mourning period, but always remain fully hoisted.

Decommissioning

When the flag can no longer be used due to wear and tear, it should be disposed of in an appropriate manner. Burning is the preferred method.

Previous flags

Flag from 1928 to 1994

The South African Republic , which was founded after the Great Trek of the Boers in the Transvaal , had a four-color flag, which was nicknamed Vierkleur in Afrikaans . It had three horizontal stripes in red-white-blue, which corresponded to the flag of the Netherlands , and on the one side a green vertical stripe. This flag was used from 1857 to 1874, again from 1875 to 1877, and from 1881 to 1902. During Thomas François Burgers ' presidency between 1874 and 1875, the Burgers Flag (or Kruisvlag ) was used instead, which shows a red St. Andrew's cross with a white border on a blue background. After the defeat of the republic in the Second Boer War , a Blue Ensign was introduced in the British Transvaal colony . A disc was added to the flight side, showing a lying lion in a veld landscape .

Another Boer republic, the Orange Free State , had a flag with seven white-orange stripes (starting with white) from 1857 to 1902, with the Dutch flag (red-white-blue) in the jack . After the conquest by the British , a Blue Ensign was also introduced here in the Orange River Colony with a springbok on the wing disc as a distinguishing mark.

The red Union flag ( Red Ensign ) with the Union Jack in the jack and the then coat of arms of South Africa on the flight side was originally just the sea flag of the Union of South Africa; At that time (1910–1928) South Africa was a Dominion under the British Crown. However, alongside the official Union Jack, it was soon viewed as a secret national flag. After the introduction of the new flag it remained the flag of the merchant navy until 1951.

The flag of South Africa from 1928 to 1994 goes back to the flag of the Dutch Orange ( Prinsenvlag , with an orange instead of red upper stripe, see flag of the Netherlands ), which is also the first flag on today's flag , according to tradition from the founder of the Dutch Cape Colony, Jan van Riebeeck South African soil was used ( Van Riebeeck flag ). The three smaller flags in the middle are the Union Jack and the flags of the former republics of Orange Free State and the South African Republic . Until 1957, the Union Jack was shown as the second national flag in addition to this flag. After the Republic of South Africa was proclaimed in 1961 , a new design based on the Prinsenvlag was proposed, but it was decided to keep the flag from 1928.

At the 1992 Summer Olympics , the South African athletes competed under an "interim Olympic flag", and a special flag was also used at the 1994 Winter Games .

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  ^? Flag of the South African Republic 1857–1874, 1875–1877 and 1881–1902, aspect ratio 2: 3

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  ^? Flag of the Orange Free State 1857–1902, aspect ratio 2: 3

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  Flag of the South African Union 1910–1912, aspect ratio 1: 2

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  Flag of the South African Union 1912–1928, aspect ratio 1: 2

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  ^? Flag of South Africa 1928–1994, aspect ratio 2: 3

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  "Interim Olympic Flag" 1992

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  Flag at the 1994 Olympics

See also

• South Africa coat of arms

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban: Designer of South Africa's current national flag dies aged 79. africanews.com of May 13, 2019, accessed on May 13, 2019
2. ^ National flag. In: www.info.gov.za. Government Communication and Information System, March 16, 2009, accessed on June 28, 2010 (English): “The design and colors are a synopsis of principal elements of the country's flag history. Individual colors, or color combinations represent different meanings for different people and therefore no universal symbolism should be attached to any of the colors. " 
3. ^ AP Burgers: The South African flag book. the history of South African flags from Dias to Mandela. Protea Book House, Pretoria 2008, p. 134.
4. ^ AP Burgers: The South African flag book. the history of South African flags from Dias to Mandela. Protea Book House, Pretoria 2008, p. 137.
5. ^ AP Burgers: The South African flag book. the history of South African flags from Dias to Mandela. Protea Book House, Pretoria 2008, p. 148.
6. ^ AP Burgers: The South African flag book. the history of South African flags from Dias to Mandela. Protea Book House, Pretoria 2008, p. 131.
7. ^ AP Burgers: The South African flag book. the history of South African flags from Dias to Mandela. Protea Book House, Pretoria 2008, pp. 147-148.
8. ↑ Frederick Gordon Brownell: Flagging the "new" South Africa, 1910-2010 . In: Historia Vol. 56 (2011), Issue 1, pp. 42–62, online at www.sahistory.org.za (PDF file, English)
9. ^ FOTW : South African Olympic Flags

Web links

Commons : Flags of South Africa  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• South African Government Information, National flag (english)
• southafrica.info: Fly, the beloved flag (English)
• Flags of the World - South Africa (English)