Heraldic tradition | Dutch |
---|---|
Jurisdiction | South Africa |
Governing body | Heraldry Council |
Chief officer | Themba Mabaso, State Herald |
The Bureau of Heraldry is the South African heraldic authority, established in Pretoria on 1 June 1963. It is headed by a State Herald (known unofficially as the National Herald since 2004) and its functions are to register arms, badges, flags and seals (as well as names and uniforms), to keep a public register, to issue registration certificates and, since 1980, to advise the government on heraldic matters. Together with the Heraldry Council, it forms part of the National Archives and Records Service (formerly called the State Archives Service), which is currently under the authority of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.