Last modified: 2008-03-08 by bruce berry
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![[Vierkleur flag of Transvaal]](../images/z/za-trans.gif)
image
by Antonio Martins, 02 Mar 1999
When the ZAR as officially recognised by Britain in January 1852, it had
neither arms or a flag of its own. The flag which had been flown by the
Voortrekkers was the so-called "Voortreeker Flag" which was a red
saltire on a blue field. By resolution of the Volksraad approved on 18
February 1858, the flag of the ZAR was described as:
"It is resolved that a flag for the South African Republic shall be adopted,
consisting of the following colours: Red, White and Blue, horizontal, each of
equal width and placed one above another, and Green perpendicular next to the
staff".
This resolution contains the only formal description of the vierkleur
which was to be the national flag of the ZAR, apart from two short
interruptions, until the end of the republic until 1902.
image by António Martins, 04 Jun 1999
In October 1874 the Volksraad adopted a new flag based on the "Voortrekker flag" for the ZAR, with the the red saltire being fimbriated in white. However, the Volksraad later reversed its decision in May 1875 when President Burgers, who was not satisfied with the vierkleur flag, was away overseas! The new saltire flag was retained as the Presidential flag, but soon fell into abeyance as some felt it was too similar to the Union Jack.
The Vierkleur gave way to the Union Jack during the British annexation of the Transvaal between 12 April 1877 and 03 August 1881, following which the independence of the Transvaal was again formally recognised and the Vierkleur restored. The ZAR came to an end following the Peace of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902 which signaled the end of the Anglo-Boer War and the ZAR once again came under British control as the Transvaal Colony.
The flag of the ZAR was incorporated into the new South
African flag in 1928 while its arms were retained as the provincial arms of
the Transvaal in 1951.
Bruce Berry, 11 Nov 1997
This flag was registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry as the flag of the South African Republic for
the Office of the Prime Minister together with the flag of the Republic
of Orange Free State on 30 April 1983 (application 08 January 1982, amendment
05 March 1982). Certificates were issued for both in Afrikaans on 14 October
1983.
The text in English for the flag of the South African Republic reads as
follows:
A rectangular flag proportions three by two, consisting of three horizontal
stripes of equal width, from top to bottom red, white and blue and at the
hoist a vertical green stripe one and one quarter the width of each of the
other three stripes.
Source: "Some South African flags, 1940-1990"
compiled by F.G. Brownell,
South African State Herald [brl92].
Mark Sensen,
08 Mar 1999
The Vierkleur of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek was designed by Reverend Dirk van der Hoff and was hoisted for the first time in Potchefstroom on 06 January 1857. It was officially accepted by the Volksraad (House of Assembly) as the flag of the ZAR on 18 February 1858. Following the occupation by the British, the flag was removed but was raised again on the Day of the Vow (Geloftedag) (16 December) in 1880 in Heidelberg.
The Transvalers fought under this flag between 1899 and 1902 during the
Anglo-Boer War.
Ernst Venter, 15 Nov 2006
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 Riebeek" orange-white-blue flag was said to be the first flag
raised in South Africa itself.
Roy Stilling, 15 Oct 1996
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 wished 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 was to unite
the whites of South Africa - those Afrikaners whose forefathers left the Colony
and set up independent republics (the small Orange Free State 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, 16 Oct 1996
image
by Antonio Martins, 02 Mar 1999
In December 1880 rebellious Boers again declared a South African Republic,
which re-established the "Vierkleur". This is the war flag of the former
South African Republic (Transvaal), used during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).
Carsten Linke, 14 June 1996
Transvaal flag (or Vierkleur) is used by the Afrikaner Volksfront
(Afrikaner People's Movement, AVF) as their
Vryheidsflag
(Freedom's flag), with an orange stripe replacing the red one.
Filip Van Laenen, 03 Oct 1996
The green in the flag stands for hope and youthfulness.
Mark Sensen, 03 Oct 1996
Thank you very much for the reaction. But actually I want to know something
about the meaning of the flags and its colours? e.g. why three orange
stripes at the OFS flag etc.?
Carsten Linke, 11 Oct 1996
The use of red, white and blue, and indeed of the unadulterated Dutch
tricolour Boer flags needs no explanation, surely?
On specifics, Carr says the green stripe in the Transvaal vierkleur
is supposed to represent "Young Holland" [p.83] (whether there was an actual
movement by this name in 19th century South African and/or the Netherlands,
or whether it was simply a reference to the nationalist ideal of groups
like "Young Italy", I don't know).
Roy Stilling, 11 Oct 1996
I received a message from an Afrikaner who states that the green
band on the flag represents how fruitful the Transvaal is. It was designed
that way by a certain Dominee (Reverend) Dirk van der Hoff. The flag was
hoisted for the first time at Potchefstroom.
Filip Van Laenen, 15 Oct 1996
The Vierkleur of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek was designed by Reverend Dirk van der Hoff and was hoisted for the first time in Potchefstroom on 06 January 1857. It was officially accepted by the Volksraad (House of Assembly) as the flag of the ZAR on 18 February 1858. Following the occupation by the British, the flag was removed but was raised again on the Day of the Vow (Geloftedag) (16 December) in 1880 in Heidelberg.
The Transvalers fought under this flag between 1899 and 1902 during the
Anglo-Boer War.
Ernst Venter, 15 Nov 2006
1928.gif)
image by
Clay Moss, 07 Dec 2005
![[fancy Transvaal flag]](../images/z/za!tv.jpg)
sent by Olivier Touzeau, 15 Oct 2002
From a series of Cigarette Silks Iron-on Transfers, the subject of which
is: Nation Animals & Flags, the fanciful flag of Transvaal.
Olivier Touzeau, 15 Oct 2002
The Transvaal certainly didn't use a hippopotamus as a symbol at any
time, nor the flag illustrated.
The illustrated flag looks like a banner of the arms of the ZAR.
Mike Oettle,
29 Feb 2008