Bophutatswana

Last modified: 2000-01-21 by ole andersen
Keywords: south africa | homeland | bophutatswana | leopard's face | bop |
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See also:

• Old South Africa
• South Africa
• Former Provinces :
  • Cape Province
  • Orange Free State
  • Transvaal
• New Provinces :
  • Free State
  • Mpumalanga
  • North-West

Within the "old" South Africa, 10 homelands were created, four of which were granted "independence" by South Africa (not recognised by any other country in the world). These former South African Homelands/bantustans ceased to exist on 27 April 1994. They have all (including the former so called independent Homelands) been reincorporated into South Africa.
The flags of the former Homelands are no longer in use (either officially or unofficially).
Bruce Berry - 25 April 1996

Bophutatswana

Relatively large territory, vastely dispersed across central to western Transvaal into northeastern Cape Province (today's northwesternmost Mpumalanga and North-West). Six main parts -- three of which, smaller, in Transvaal (with the easternmost one briefly bordering KwaNdebele), and two other (one of which quite large) in the Cape Province; the sixth, very uncompact shaped unlike the others, stretching between the two provinces and extensively bordering Botswana.
Antonio Martins - 30 May 1999

There was a portion of Bophuthatswana in Orange Free State at Thaba Nchu - about 50km east of Bloemfontein (today in Free State).
Bruce Berry - 31 May 1999

The design of the flag of Bophuthatswana was originally set out in section 2 of the Boputhatswana Flag Act of 1972, which reads as follows:
"The Bophuthatswana flag shall be Azure with a bar sinister Tenne, in Dexter chief a roundel Argent charged with a leopard's face Sable pied Argent.
The width of the flag shall be equal to two-thirds of its length.
The width of the bar shall be one-twelfth of the length of the flag.
The diameter of the roundel shall be one-quarter of the length of the flag".

The flag was taken into use on 19 April 1973 after the homeland achieved internal self-government on 1 June 1972.

The flag remained unchanged when the homeland became "independent" on 6 December 1977 and a description of this flag was incorporated into section 2 of the Republic of Boputhatswana Constitution Act.

The blue symbolises the infinity of the sky and the striving for progress and development. The orange bar refers to the golden path which must be taken by the Tswana people in order to bring this development to fruition. The leopard's face is symbolic of the authority necessary to lead the people to the development of their potential. Leopards are traditional symbols of authority for the Tswana people.

Bophuthatswana was re-incorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994 and ceased to exist as a separate political entity and as such the flag is no longer in use.

Bruce Berry - 1 December 1998