Flag of South Africa
Flag NameFlag of South Africa
Country NameSouth Africa
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2ZA
Date Adopted1994-04-27
Adoption Statusofficial
Flag Typenational
Aspect Ratio2:3
Primary Colorsblack, green, gold, white, red, blue
Symbolism DescriptionThe flag's design and colors are a synopsis of the country's flag history. The Y-shape represents the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity. While no official symbolism is attached to the colors, popular interpretations suggest that black, green, and gold are colors of the African National Congress (ANC), while red, white, and blue are colors found in the flags of the former Boer republics and the Union Jack. Red is also often associated with bloodshed, blue with the sky, green with the land, white with peace, gold with natural resources, and black with the people.
Symbolism Categorieshistory
DesignerFrederick Brownell
Related FlagsFlag of the Union of South Africa (1928-1994)
Legal DescriptionThe flag is described in Schedule 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
Description
The national flag of South Africa was adopted on 27 April 1994, at the end of apartheid, to mark the country's new democracy. It features a horizontal Y-shape (or chevron) in green, bordered by white, which divides a red upper triangle from a blue lower triangle. The hoist side of the flag has a black triangle, bordered by gold (yellow).
