The
Flag of South Africa - Description of the South African Flag
As the
above picture of the South African Flag indicates a multi-color
flag
The description of
the South African Flag is as follows:
Two equal width
horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central
green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which
end at the corners of the hoist side
The Y embraces a
black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by
narrow yellow bands
The red and blue
bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow
white stripes
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the South African flag represent the
following:
Yellow - a
symbol of generosity and for the natural resources i.e. gold
White -
peace and honesty and the people of European origin
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour and for bloodshed
Blue -
vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice and
the open blue skies
Green -
hope, joy and love and for the land
Black -
Determination and the black population
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the South African flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the
height )
The lefthalf of the flag ( viewer's left side )
is called the Hoist
The upper
left quarter of the flag is called the Canton
The right
half of the flag is called the Fly
The Meaning & History of the South African Flag
The 'Y'
symbolizes the merging nationalities - i.e. unity
The flag was
designed by the South African State Herald, Mr Fred Brownell
The South African national flag
of the Republic of South Africa was adopted on April 26th 1994
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
South
African
Flag Etiquette
South African Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including South African as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
South African
State Flag of South
African
Military Flag of
South African (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of South
African
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the South African Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The National flag of
South African should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The South African flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
South African should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the South African flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of South African, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in South African Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the South African flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the South African flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the South African flag to the top, then lowering the
South African Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the South African flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The South African flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the South African flag
The South
African flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The South
African
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
South African flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to South
African
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and
information regarding South African Flag Etiquette has provided a useful
resource
South Africa
Location:
Southern Africa, at the southern tip of
the continent of Africa
South African Land Size : 1,219,912 sq km
Climate / Weather
of South Africa : mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast;
sunny days, cool nights
South African
Population : 42,718,530
Former Name(s) :
Union of South Africa
South African
Capital City: Pretoria; note - Cape Town is the legislative
center and Bloemfontein the judicial center
South African GDP:
$456.7 billion (2003 est.)
South African Main Industries :
mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium),
automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and
steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs
Main Colors of the
South African Flag : Multi-colored
Concise History of
South Africa & its Flag
10,000BC
Upper Paleolithic (the Old Stone Age) period
5000 -
3000BC Neolithic (New Stone Age) period
3000BC -
1000BC - Evidence of migration of people from Somalia and
Ethiopia
The Zulus,
who belong to the Nguni-speaking peoples, constitute the
majority of the population. Other tribes include the Khoi, San,
and Xhosa
400 AD -
Migration of the Bantu peoples into South
Africa
700 -
Trade with the Arabs and Phoenicians in ivory, rhino horn, gold,
shells and slaves
1480 -
Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Dias first European to travel
round the southern tip of Africa
1497 July 8 - Vasco da Gama set out
on expedidition to India via Africa stopping at Mombasa,
Mozambique, Malindi, Kenya, and Quilmana trading centres
1652 - Jan van Riebeeck,
representing the Dutch East India Company, founds the Cape
Colony at Table Bay and Dutch settlement of South Africa starts
1816 - 1826
Shaka Zulu founds and expands the Zulu empire
1835 - 1840
- The Boers leave Cape Colony and found the Orange Free State
and the Transvaal
1858 - Boers
proclaim the Transvaal a republic
1867 -
Diamonds discovered at Kimberley
1877 - The
British and the Boers defeat the Zulus
1880-81 -
The Boer War - Boers rebel against the British
1880s - The
gold rush
1910 -
Formation of Union of South Africa by former British colonies of
the Cape and Natal, and the Boer republics of Transvaal, and
Orange Free State
1913 - Land
Act introduced preventing Blacks from purchasing land
1948 -
Policy of apartheid adopted by the National Party (NP)
1950 - Group
Areas Act passed to segregate black and white people
1950 - The
African National Congress (ANC) led by Nelson Mandela initiates
a civil disobedience
1961 - South
Africa declared a republic
1964 -
Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment
1970's-
1980's - Civil unrest, sanctions imposed on South Africa, forced
resettlement process and Township revolts
1990 -
Nelson Mandela released from prison
1991 - De
Klerk repeals remaining apartheid laws and international
sanctions are lifted
"Around the World in 80
minutes!"
A combination of information
regarding a Nation's flag, History, Geography and Current Events
provides an accurate snapshot of the evolution of each country
In just a short period of time this
concise information with specific facts will improve your
overall understanding of the great countries of the World
A useful Educational Resource
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The
South African Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the South African Flag and Country has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your
knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the
Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the
right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
