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South African Army Flags (2002- )

by Bruce Berry, 18 Sep 2002

South African Army flags (2002-03)
Army office flag
New army emblem (2003)

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South African Army flags (2002-03)

The South African army recently adopted two new flags. The previous Army flag was adopted on 11 November 1994 when the new South African national flag was placed in the canton. The design of this flag was the same as that introduced in 1973 comprising the old national flag in the canton and a gold springbok head in the centre of the Cape Town castle outline in the lower fly. Until the adoption of new Army flag, all badges of the service arms of the South African National Defence Force (army, airforce, navy and medical corps) comprised the castle outline. The use of the castle outline is also under review with the Army adopting a new emblem without the castle outline in March 2000. The new emblem comprises a lion’s head surrounded by three lionesses heads (the so-called “pride of lions”) in gold in the centre of a red shield.
Two new Army flags were introduced in April 2002. The new army emblem replaces the springbok and castle outline on the Army flag. The lions represent cohesion and the ongoing transformation of the Army within the SANDF. A new Army Office flag has also been introduced. This flag has a red field with the emblem superimposed over a pair of crossed swords in the centre and will be used by administrators.

The new flags have not been registered with the Bureau of Heraldry, which objected to the design of the Army Office flag as being too similar to the Indian war flag.
With the removal of the castle outline from the army emblem and flag, it is anticipated that the other services of the SANDF will also review their emblems and flags. In a recent press release (23/08/2002), SANDF chief Gen. Siphiwe Nyanda said new insignia for the SA army, air force, navy and military health service would be introduced on 3 September 2002. The new insignia reflects the new coat of arms. The Castle-outline motif is to be replaced by a nine-pointed star on badges of rank. The nine points represent the nine provinces. Gen Nyanda said that the castle-motif on the flags of the SANDF would also be replaced in due course.
Bruce Berry, 18 Sep 2002

Should the field of the new SA Army flag be red, as the GIF appears to show, or is it still dark orange?
Tom Gregg, 19 Sep 2002

The red of the SA flag (and field of the Army flag) is officially "chilli" red (a combination of orange and red!).
Bruce Berry, 20 Sep 2002

Army office flag

by Bruce Berry, 18 Sep 2002

A new Army Office flag has also been introduced. This flag has a red field with the emblem superimposed over a pair of crossed swords in the centre and will be used by administrators.
Bruce Berry, 18 Sep 2002

New army emblem (2003)

by Bruce Berry, 18 Sep 2002

The new emblem comprises a lion’s head surrounded by three lionesses heads (the so-called “pride of lions”) in gold in the centre of a red shield
Bruce Berry, 18 Sep 2002