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KwaZulu (South African homeland)

Last modified: 2022-10-22 by bruce berry
Keywords: south africa | homeland | kwazulu |
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KwaZulu - introduction

Within the "old" South Africa, 10 homelands were created, four of which were granted "independence" by South Africa (not recognised by any other country in the world). These former South African Homelands/bantustans ceased to exist on 27 April 1994. They have all (including the former so called independent Homelands) been reincorporated into South Africa.

The flags of the former Homelands are no longer in use (either officially or unofficially).
Bruce Berry, 25 April 1996

The former KwaZulu homeland was relatively large but highly segmented in enclaves and exclaves all over the former Natal province (today's KwaZulu/Natal), one of which completely adjoins the Mozambican border in the north. It also bordered on Transkei in the south.
Antonio Martins, 30 May 1999

The self-governing homeland of KwaZulu comprised a large number of non-contiguous parts spread throughout the Zululand and Natal. The homeland was granted internal self-government on 01 February 1977.
Bruce Berry, 01 Dec 1998
 

KwaZulu flag (1985 - 1994)

image by Martin Grieve, 21 Dec 2006

The 1977 flag was replaced on 14 January 1985 by an amended design which was prescribed in the KwaZulu Flag Amendment Act of 1984.
The description of the amended flag reads as follows:
"The width of the flag of KwaZulu shall be equal to two-thirds of its length.
On left of the flag shall be a vermilion vertical panel of which the width shall be equal to one-third of the width of the flag and in the middle of this panel shall be portrayed in white a shield, five-ninths the height of the flag, superimposed on the plumed staff and spears in saltire of a Zulu warrior.
The right hand portion of the flag shall be divided into five horizontal panels.
The top and bottom panels shall be white and each of these panels shall be equal to one third of the height of the flag.
The middle three portions shall be equal in width and coloured from top to bottom, black, green and gold".
The Inkatha Freedom Party, which exercised political control in KwaZulu had its origins in the African National Congress (ANC). In the first of the KwaZulu flags, the stripes in the middle of the flag were the reverse of the ANC. In the later version, this was changed to the order found on the ANC flag, namely black, green and gold. These colours are said the represent the people (black), the land (green) and natural wealth and resources (gold). White and red are the additional colours of Inkatha. Whereas the first flag bore a plain white shield on the hoist panel, a further change in the amended design is the addition of a full shield, staff and spears of a Zulu warrior.

KwaZulu was re-incorporated into South Africa on 27 April 1994 and is now part of the KwaZulu-Natal province. The homeland flag is no longer in use.

The flag of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) consists of seven horizontal stripes of red, white, black, green, gold, white and red.
Bruce Berry, 01 Dec 1998
 

KwaZulu flag (1977 - 1985)

image by Martin Grieve, 21 Dec 2006

The design of the original flag of Kwazulu is set out in section 2 of the KwaZulu Flag Act of 1977, which reads as follows:
"The width of the flag of KwaZulu shall be equal to two-thirds of its length.
On the left of the flag shall be a vermilion coloured vertical panel of which the width shall be equal to one-third of the width of the flag and in the middle of this panel shall be portrayed in white a shield of a Zulu warrior, five-ninths the height of the flag.
The right hand portion of the flag shall be divided into five horizontal panels.
The top and bottom horizontal panels shall be white and each of these shall be equal to one-third of the height of the flag.
The middle three panels shall be equal in width and coloured from top to bottom, gold, green and black".
Bruce Berry, 01 Dec 1998

 

KwaZulu Police flag

image by Jens Pattke, 24 Jan 2013

The design of flag of the KwaZulu Police is based on that of the South African Police and consists of a light green field with a dark green horizontal band one-seventh of the width of the flag across the centre. The second version of the KwaZulu flag is in the canton and the badge of the Kwazulu Police appears in the lower fly. The badge consists of a yellow ochre and white eight-pointed rayed star charged in the centre on a white roundel with the coat of arms of KwaZulu in full colour, within a green annulet bearing the words AMAPHOYISA AKWAZULU above and KWAZULU POLICE below, in yellow ochre letters.

image by Jens Pattke, 24 Jan 2013

Following the reincorporation of KwaZulu into South Africa on 27 April 1994, the KwaZulu Police Force was amalgamated with the South African Police Service and
this flag fell into abeyance.
Bruce Berry, 24 Jan 2013

KwaZulu Prison Service flag

image by Jens Pattke, 21 Jan 2013

The flag of the KwaZulu Prisons Service (whose name was later changed to the KwaZulu Correctional Services) has a dark green field with the second KwaZulu flag in the canton, occupying one quarter the length of the field with the badge of the KwaZulu Prisons Service in gold, with black detail, in the lower fly. The flag was designed by the South African Bureau of Heraldry and the badge was registered under the Heraldry Act in April 1991. The badge consists of a gourd charged with a representation of the ground plan of a cattle kraal, with an inner kraal, above which are three Zulu huts; the gourd resting on a grass mat, all within and conjoined to two feathers tied together to form an open wreath.

image by Jens Pattke, 21 Jan 2013

Following the reincorporation of KwaZulu into South Africa on 27 April 1994, KwaZulu Correctional Services amalgamated with the South African Department of Correctional Services and consequently this flag is no longer used.
Bruce Berry, 21 Jan 2013

KwaZulu Coat of Arms

  scan by Bruce Berry, 21 Dec 2006

By Government Notice No. 1599, published in the South African Government Gazette (Number 3644 of 08 September 1972) it was notified that a coat of arms had been registered for the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly in terms of the South African Heraldry Act (Act No. 18 of 1962).  The South African State Herald did not issue a formal certificate of registration in terms of the Heraldry Act in respect of these Arms as they had been devised without consultation of the Bureau of Heraldry.

The blazon of the coat of arms is described as:

Arms:                  Argent, a Zulu Royal Sceptre erect proper, accompanied on either side by nine spear thongs in pale and in base pied of an oval Sable.
Crest:                  A head-ring Sable, thereon an elephant’s head caboshed proper.
Supporters:         Dexter a leopard clasping in its sinister claw a spear erect and sinister a lion clasping in its dexter claw a spear, proper.
Motto:                 SONQOBA SIMUNYE  (Together we shall surmount)

With the re-incorporation of KwaZulu into South Africa on 27 April 1994, these Arms are no longer used.
Bruce Berry, 21 Dec 2006