National symbols of South Africa

Since unification in 1910, South Africa has used a range of national symbols to identify the country: coats of arms, official seals, flags, national anthems, and floral, bird, animal, and other emblems.

Coats of arms

• 1910 coat of arms - granted by King George V in 1910, and used until 2000.^[1]
• 2000 coat of arms - introduced by the Mbeki administration in 2000.^[2]

Seals

• Great Seal of the Union - authorised by King George V in 1910, and used until 1937 on state documents signed by the governor-general.^[1]
• Royal Great Seal of the Union - authorised by the Royal Executive Functions and Seals Act 1934, and used until 1961 on state documents signed by the monarch on the advice of the South African government.^[3]
• Royal Signet of the Union - authorised by the Royal Executive Functions and Seals Act 1934, and used until 1961 on state documents signed by the monarch on the advice of the South African government.^[3]
• Governor-General's Great Seal - authorised by King George VI in 1937, and used until 1961 on state documents signed by the governor-general.^[4]
• Seal of the Republic - authorised by the Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 1961, and used on state documents signed by the (state) president.^[5] The use of the seal has not been a constitutional requirement since 1997,^[6] but its use continues nevertheless.

Flags

National

• National Flag of the Union - authorised by the Union Flags and Nationality Act 1927, and introduced in 1928. Renamed the "National Flag of the Republic" in 1961,^[7] it was used until 1994.
• National Flag - the current flag, introduced in 1994.

Merchant ensign

• Red Ensign defaced with the shield of the coat of arms - authorised by the Admiralty in 1910, for use on South African-registered merchant ships, and also used as an unofficial "national flag". From 1912, the shield was placed on a white disc.^[1] The ensign was discontinued in 1960.^[8]
• Since 1960, the national flag has been used as the merchant ensign.^[8]

Civil ensign

• Blue Ensign defaced with the shield of the coat of arms - authorised by the Admiralty in 1910, for use on South African government vessels. Superseded by the National Flag of the Union.^[1]

Head of state's flag

• Union Jack defaced with the full coat of arms surrounded by acacia leaves and flowers - flown by the governor-general until 1931.^[1]
• Governor-General's flag - blue, displaying the royal crest between two ribands bearing the name of the country. Used from 1931 to 1961.^[1]
• State President's flag (1) - blue, displaying the national coat of arms below the letters SP. Used from 1961 to 1984.^[1]
• State President's flag (2) - orange, white, and blue triangles, displaying the national coat of arms below the letters SP. Used from 1984 to 1994.^[1]

National Anthem

• God Save the King (Queen) - used from 1910 to 1957.
• Die Stem van Suid-Afrika - used from 1938 to 1957 as joint anthem with God Save the King (Queen); from 1957 to 1994 as the sole national anthem; and from 1994 to 1997 as joint anthem with Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika.
• Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika - used from 1994 to 1997 as joint anthem with Die Stem.
• National Anthem of South Africa - shortened versions of Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika and Die Stem, with altered words, combined into a single anthem, and used since 1997.^[9]

Other symbols

• King Protea
• Blue Crane
• Springbok
• Yellowwood tree

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Brownell, F.G. (1993). National and Provincial Symbols
2. ^ Government Gazette no 21131 (28 April 2000)
3. ^ ^{a b} Royal Executive Functions and Seals Act 1934
4. ^ Government Gazette no 2533 (6 June 1938)
5. ^ Republic of South Africa Constitution Acts 1961, 1983, 1993
6. ^ Republic of South Africa Constitution 1996
7. ^ Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 1961
8. ^ ^{a b} Merchant Shipping Act 1951 w.e.f. 1 January 1960
9. ^ Government Gazette no 18341 (10 October 1997)

• Brownell, F.G. (1993). National and Provincial Symbols.
• Burgers, A.P. (2008). The South African Flag Book.
• Pama, C. (1965). Lions and Virgins.

See also

• Coat of arms of South Africa
• Flag of South Africa
• List of South African flags
• National anthem of South Africa
• National flower of South Africa

External links

• South African Heraldry Website