Flag of South Africa (1928–1994)

flag of the Union of South Africa and the Republic of South Africa between 1928 and 1994

The flag of South Africa from 1928 to 1994 was the flag of the Union of South Africa from 1928 to 1961 and the flag of the Republic of South Africa to 1994. It was also the flag of South West Africa (now Namibia) to 1990, when that territory was under South African administration.

South Africa
Name"Oranje, Blanje, Blou"[1]
"Union flag"[2][3]
"Apartheid flag"[4]
UseNational flag, civil and state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion2:3
Adopted31 May 1928 (1928-05-31)
(dark version)
1982 (1982)
(bright version)
Relinquished21 March 1990 (1990-03-21)
(South West Africa)
20 April 1994 (1994-04-20)
(South Africa)
DesignThree horizontal bands of orange, white and blue with three small flags (the Union Flag to the left, the vertical version of the flag of the Orange Free State in the centre and the flag of the South African Republic to the right) centered on the white band.

The design features three horizontal bands of orange, white and blue with three small flags (the flag of the United Kingdom to the left, the vertical version of the flag of the Orange Free State in the centre and the flag of the South African Republic to the right) centered on the white band. Because of its colours it was known as the Oranje, Blanje, Blou (Afrikaans for Orange, White, Blue) by citizens.

The flag is viewed as a symbol of apartheid and white supremacy, since 2019 it is illegal to display this flag in public in South Africa and is classified as a hate speech.[5] This ruling is seen as a political move on the part of the ANC government,[6] who has been ruling the country since 1994. The banning of the Oranje, Blanje, Blou is challenged by many in the South African Supreme Court of Appeal.[7]

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References

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  1. Cite error: The named reference stat was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  2. Dickens, Peter (2017-03-15). "The inconvenient and unknown history of South Africa's national flags". The Observation Post. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  3. "How an old Dutch flag became a racist symbol". The Economist. 2015-06-22. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  4. Cite error: The named reference gaffe was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  5. Tom Head (21 August 2019). "It's now 'illegal' to display the apartheid flag in South Africa". The South African. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  6. ""Old flag" banned: What it's all about - Afriforum". afriforum.co.za. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  7. "Old flag: AfriForum fights in Supreme Court of Appeal for freedom of speech - Afriforum". afriforum.co.za. Retrieved 2022-03-08.