Flag of South Africa

For other flags of South Africa, see List of South African flags.

Republic of South Africa
UseCivil and state flag, civil and state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole 90°
Proportion2:3
Adopted27 April 1994; 30 years ago (1994-04-27)
DesignA horizontal bicolour of red and blue with a black isosceles triangle based on the hoist-side and a green pall, a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, centred over the partition lines and was edged in both white against the red and the blue bands and yellow against the triangle, in which the arms of the Y ends at the corners of the hoist and embraces the triangle on the hoist-side.
Designed byFrederick Brownell
South African National Defence Force
UseWar flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Adopted25 April 2003; 21 years ago (2003-04-25)
South African Naval Ensign
UseNaval ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Adopted16 March 1998; 26 years ago (1998-03-16)

The national flag of South Africa was designed in March 1994 and adopted on 27 April 1994, during South Africa's 1994 general election, to replace the previous flag used from 1928–1994.

The flag has horizontal bands of red (on the top) and blue (on the bottom), of equal width, separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal "Y" shape, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side (and follow the flag's diagonals). The "Y" embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow or gold bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes. The stripes at the fly end are in the 5:1:3:1:5 ratio. Three of the flag's colours were taken from the flag of the South African Republic, itself derived from the flag of the Netherlands, as well as the Union Jack, while the remaining three colours were taken from the flag of the African National Congress. Nicknames for the flag include the Seskleur (lit. 'six colour')[1] and the Rainbow Flag.[2]

  1. ^ Hannelee, Doubell (20 October 2008). "1994". BuzzSouthAfrica.com. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  2. ^ Gumede, Rachael (23 September 2015). "South African Flag: Colors, Meaning & Rules About The National Symbol". BuzzSouthAfrica.com. Retrieved 9 October 2022.