List of South African flags

=History=

Based on the history of South Africa, the country has evolved from colonial occupation to independence in 1994 since 1652. During this period this country has experienced three national flags representing three different political eras. The first era represents the Dutch East India company that was led by Jan van Riebeck as the first foreign occupiers. The second flag represents the era of the British settlements and the Dutch de facto (semi-autonomous) government in the Orange Free state and the Transvaal region. This period marks the entrenched apartheid era under the leadership of Henrick Vervoed. The third flag represents a free South Africa (post-apartheid) era. The current government that hoisted this flag on April 27, 1994 (South Africa’s Independence Day) was under the leadership of Mr. Nelson Mandela with two deputies, Mr. Willem De-Clerk and Mr. Thabo Mbeki. Here below is a brief historical background of the three flags.

National Flag - 1994 to Present

• The present design of the South African national flag was first flown on 27 April 1994, the same day as South Africa's first ever multiracial election. However, the flag was first commissioned as an interim flag only, and was decided upon at the very last minute, barely making it onto the nation's flagpoles in time for the election.

• In February 1994, Cyril Ramaphosa and Roelof Meyer, chief negotiators of the African National Congress and the National Party government of the day respectively, were given the task of resolving the flag issue. The proclamation of the new national flag was only published on 20 April 1994, a mere seven days before the flag was to be inaugurated, sparking a frantic last-minute flurry for flag manufacturers.

• The flag was designed by the then State Herald of South Africa, Fred Brownell.