South Africa Flag

South Africa's flag is a unique six-colour design featuring a green Y-shape (or pall), outlined in gold and white, on a field of red (top), blue (bottom), and black triangle at the hoist. No official symbolic meaning was assigned to individual colours to avoid privileging any one cultural tradition.

The green Y-shape is read as a convergence — representing the coming together of diverse elements of South African society. The six colours draw from the ANC, the Boer Republics' flags, and the Union of South Africa, weaving multiple histories into one design.

The flag was designed by state herald Fred Brownell and adopted on 27 April 1994 — the day of South Africa's first fully democratic election following the end of apartheid. It was initially intended as a temporary flag but proved so popular it was retained permanently.

No flag in history had previously used six colours without repetition. Brownell designed it in one weekend to meet a deadline. It is widely known as the "rainbow nation" flag, reflecting Archbishop Desmond Tutu's description of the new South Africa.