Flag of the Union of South Africa
.svg) |
|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 1928 |
| Relinquished | April 1994 |
| Design |
 Three horizontal bands of orange, white and blue with three small Flags (the Union Jack to the left, the vertical version of the flag of the Orange Free State in the centre and the flag of the South African Republic to the right) centered on the white band. |
The flag of South Africa between 1928 and 1994 was the flag of the Union of South Africa and its successor state, the Republic of South Africa. It was also used in South-West Africa (now Namibia) when the territory was under South African rule. Based on the Dutch Prince's Flag, it contained the flag of the United Kingdom, the flag of the Orange Free State and the flag of the South African Republic in the centre. A nickname for the flag was Oranje, Blanje, Blou (Afrikaans: 'orange, white, blue'). It was adopted in 1928 by an act of Parliament from the first Afrikaner majority government and was used during the apartheid era. It was replaced by the current flag of South Africa in 1994 with the commencement of the republic's transitional constitution and end of apartheid.
Following its retirement in 1994 the flag has been controversial within South Africa, with some people viewing it as historic and a symbol of Afrikaner heritage while others view it as a symbol of apartheid and of white supremacy.
Before 1928 the only flag that had official status in the Union of South Africa was the United Kingdom's Union Jack as South Africa was part of the British Empire. The South Africa Red Ensign was used as an unofficial flag. In 1925, discussion rose about creating a new flag for South Africa as many descendants of Boers found the Union Jack unacceptable after the Boer War. In 1926 the Balfour Declaration granted South Africa legislative autonomy, opening the possibility of a new flag. British settlers wanted the Union Jack in the new flag as part of the British Empire while the Afrikaners did not. A compromise was reached whereby the new flag would consist of the Prince's Flag as this was the first flag raised on South Africa and a badge of the Union Jack in the centre with the flags of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic. The Union Jack was mirrored in the new flag with the hoist on the right so that it did not take precedence over the others.
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