National symbols of South Africa

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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 (from 1994 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 Superseded by the National Flag of the Union.^[1]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 national anthem with "God Save the King (Queen)"; from 1957 to 1994 as the sole national anthem; and from 1994 to 1997 as joint national anthem with "Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika". Elements of it are incorporated in the current South African national anthem.
• "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" – used from 1994 to 1997 as joint national anthem with "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika". Elements of it are incorporated in the current South African national anthem.
• "National anthem of South Africa" – abridged versions of "Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika" and "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika", with altered words, combined into a single national anthem, and used since early 1997.^[9]

National symbols

• 
  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

Bibliography

• 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

• National symbols | South African Government
• South African Heraldry Website