Knowing All About The South African Flags

The South African flags that we know of today was adopted at the end of the apartheid on April 27, 1994. The national flag of South Africa represented the first newly elected democratic government that stood for the South Africans. There were many flag designs that had been submitted for approval, but Frederick G. Brownell’s interim flag was the ultimate winner, which was made into the national flag.

The look of the South African flags

At the top of the South African flag, you will find horizontal bands of red and at the bottom of the flag you will find horizontal bands of blue. The red and blue equal width bands are separated by a horizontal green band. According to Brownell (the flag designer), the red color in the flag symbolized the blood shed that had taken place in South Africa’s many conflicts and wars.

The green band has been further split up into a horizontal “Y” shape, with its arms ending at the hoist side corners. A black isosceles triangle is also within the Y, and the narrow yellow bands separate the arms of the green band. A narrow white stripe separates the red and blue bands from the green band and its arms. The stripes at the fly end are in the ratio of 5:1:3:1.5.

The South African flags are different from the other national flags for two reasons: firstly, the flag is made of six colors; secondly, the South African flag does not have any brocade or seal.

Unofficial explanations of the flag colors

There is one explanation that speaks of the pall (Y) as the convergence of a unified nation. The green in the flag represents the essential features of South Africa, which are the natural environment and the farms. The blue color in the South African flags symbolize the two oceans that surround the country and the sky. The black depicts the black South Africans, which doubles up as a symbol of belonging with the rest of Africa. The yellow that you get to see in the South African flag resembles the natural resources of South Africa, chiefly gold; and ultimately, the white in the flag stands for the white South Africans and doubles up as a sign of peace.

Respect

You must be treating the South African flags with respect and dignity in order to abide by the South African law. However, you will still find the South African flag being painted on faces at the sports events and they are even cut into pieces for clothing and other uses; these are in absolute disrespect of the national flag of South Africa.

If the South African flags are to be disposed, then remember that they must be burnt in a dignified manner.