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.
• 2000 coat of arms – introduced by the Mbeki administration in 2000.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Governor-General's Great Seal – authorised by King George VI in 1937, and used until 1961 on state documents signed by the governor-general.
• Seal of the Republic – authorised by the Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 1961, and used on state documents signed by the (state) president. The use of the seal has not been a constitutional requirement since 1997, but its use continues nevertheless.

Flags

National

Flag of South Africa since 1994

• 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, 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. The ensign was discontinued in 1960.
• Since 1960, the national flag has been used as the merchant ensign.

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 Superseded by the National Flag of the Union.

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.
• Governor-General's flag – blue, displaying the royal crest between two ribands bearing the name of the country. Used from 1931 to 1961.
• State President's flag (1) – blue, displaying the national coat of arms below the letters SP. Used from 1961 to 1984.
• 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.

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.

Natural symbols

• Protea P1010882.JPG

  National flower:
  King protea

• 

  National tree:
  Real yellowwood

• 

  National animal:
  Springbok

• 

  National fish:
  Galjoen

• 

  National bird:
  Blue crane

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

References

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

External links

• South African Heraldry Website