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, such as coats of arms, official seals, flags, national anthems, and floral, bird, animal, and other emblems.

## Coats of arms

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* 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

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* 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

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### National

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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,[7] it was used until 1994.
* National Flag – the current flag, introduced in 1994.

### Merchant ensign

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* "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

[edit]

* National flower:
King protea

* National tree:
Real yellowwood

* National animal:
Springbok

* National fish:
Galjoen

* National bird:
Blue crane

## See also

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* Africa portal

* 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

[edit]

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)

## Bibliography

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* 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

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

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