Venda

Last modified: 2000-01-21 by ole andersen
Keywords: south africa | homeland | venda | v |
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by Mark Sensen

See also:

• Old South Africa
• South Africa
• Former Province :
  • Transvaal
• New Province :
  • Northern Province

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

Venda

In the northeastern of Transvaal (today's Northern Province), with a main part and one main enclave, not very compactly shaped. It vastly borders the northern part of Gazankulu.
Antonio Martins - 30 May 1999

Venda means "world" or "land" and as such refers to the traditional home of the BaVenda tribe.

Venda was granted internal self-government on 1 February 1973 and achieved full "independence" from South Africa on 13 September 1979.

The design of the Venda flag was originally set out in section 2 of the Venda Flag Act of 1973, which reads as follows:

"The Venda Flag shall be a flag consisting of three horizontal stripes of equal width from top to bottom of green, yellow and brown and towards the pole a vertical blue stripe appear, in the centre of the yellow stripe the letter V in brown.
The width of the Venda flag shall be equal to two-thirds of its length.
The length of the letter V shall be five-sevenths and the width of the letter V shall be five-sevenths of the width of a stripe".

A description of this flag, with amended wording, was subsequently incorporated into Schedule 3 of the Republic of Venda Constitution Act of 1979 and read as follows:

"Description of the National Flag of the Republic of Venda
Three horizontal stripes of equal width from top to bottom green, yellow and brown and towards the pole a vertical blue stripe equal in width to a horizontal stripe on which there shall appear, in the centre of the yellow stripes the letter V in brown. The width shall be equal to two-thirds of the length. The length of the letter V shall be five-sevenths of the width of a stripe and the width of the letter V shall be five-sevenths of the width of a stripe".

The colours of the flag of Venda are those used in traditional BaVenda beadwork. The design of the flag is reminiscent of that of the former Transvaal Republic, with three horizontal stripes and a hoist panel.

This design was also used briefly in the flag of neighbouring Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979-80).

The brown symbolises the Venda soil, while the beauty of the countryside is reflected by the yellow and blue stands for heaven. The beads have a deeply religious significance and are passed down from generation to generation.

With the advent of democracy in South Africa, Venda was re-incorporated on 27 April 1994 and is now part of the Northern Province. The flag is no longer used.

Bruce Berry - 1 December 1998