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
- 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
- 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 Superseded by the National Flag of the Union.[1]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
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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
- ^ a b c d e f g h Brownell, F.G. (1993). National and Provincial Symbols
- ^ Government Gazette no 21131 (28 April 2000)
- ^ a b Royal Executive Functions and Seals Act 1934
- ^ Government Gazette no 2533 (6 June 1938)
- ^ Republic of South Africa Constitution Acts 1961, 1983, 1993
- ^ Republic of South Africa Constitution 1996
- ^ Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 1961
- ^ a b Merchant Shipping Act 1951 w.e.f. 1 January 1960
- ^ Government Gazette no 18341 (10 October 1997)
Bibliography
- Brownell, F.G. (1993). National and Provincial Symbols.
- Burgers, A.P. (2008). The South African Flag Book.
- Pama, C. (1965). Lions and Virgins.