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South Africa (1910-1994)

by Mark Sensen

Orange or Red ?

Why did the Transvaal adopt the "new" Dutch colors (red-white-blue) whereas Afrikaaner S. Africa use the "old" Dutch colors (orange-white-blue) for their flag?
Josh Fruhlinger - 1996-10-15

Totally speculatively, I suspect it might be because the independent Boer republics were trying to capitalise on their Dutch connections in the hope of getting support from there and elsewhere in Europe against the British. However, by the 1920s it was clear that for the time being they had to be resigned to the British connection. Instead more emphasis was put on the idea of the Afrikaners (a term and language which was then becoming preferred over the Dutch used in the 19th century) as a people belonging to and shaped by Africa, as much as by Europe, and the "Van Reibeck" orange-white-blue flag was said to be the first flag raised in South Africa itself.
Just speculation mind, from what little I know of SA history (which was acquired several years ago now)
Roy Stilling - 1996-10-15

Even the earliest republics (Graaff-Reinet and Swellendam, which were set up in 1795) adopted the new Dutch flag. The reason was that they saw themselves as being Dutch, but no longer belonging to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) which still flew the old orange-white-blue flag.
The Afrikaners (Boers) of the Great Trek who whished to escape the British colonial rule, adopted Dutch-inspired flag for their new republics for the same reason.
When the new (now old) South African flag was created, it should unite the whites of South Africa: The Afrikaners whose forefathers left the Colony and set up independent republics (the small OFS and ZAR flag), the Afrikaners whose forefathers stayed at the Cape (the orange-white-blue "Van Riebeeck flag") and the British settlers (the small Union Jack). I agree with Roy that the Van Riebeeck flag was used as dominating part because of its importance in South African history.
And don't forget that the flag was adopted under the rule of the Afrikaner JBM Hertzog.
Carsten Linke - 1996-10-16

Upside-down Union Flag ?

The UK flag within the Old South African one is upside down. Is that the way it is supposed to be?
R Nathan Bliss - 6 March 1998

This is my understanding and feel free to correct me:
It isn't upside down; it is being seen from the back! This was an elaborate trick to keep any one of the three flags from having "precedence;" the British flag as portrayed on the old RSA flag as at the honor point (left); but since you are seeing the reverse, from the "proper" perspective the UJ is really on the left.
Joshua Fruhlinger - 9 March 1998

South Africa (1910-1994)

Flag of 1910

Flag of 1912

Orange or Red ?

Upside-down Union Flag ?