Historical Flags of Our Ancestors - South African Provincial Coat of Arms

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South African Provincial Coat of Arms
(including the Coat of Arms of the Former Provinces of South Africa)

Images courtesy of the South African Bureau of Heraldry - Scanned materials provided by SAVA

Modern South Africa is divided into nine provinces. In 1994, South Africa's former homelands (Bantustans) were integrated into the four existing provinces to form today's nine. The twelfth, thirteenth and sixteenth amendments to the constitution realigned the borders of seven of these South African provinces. Each province has adopted their own Provincial Coat of Arms:

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South African Provincial Coat of Arms

Eastern Cape Province Coat of Arms	Arms of the Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape province is located in south-east central South Africa. It was established on 27 April 1994 and includes the southeastern part of the former Cape Province and the former homelands of Ciskei and Transkei. Its capital is Bhiso (formerly capital of the Ciskei). The provincial arms were registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 25 March 1996 and are described as follows: ARMS: Argent, between flanches Gules, in base bars gemelles wavy Azure and in chief a tree-aloe issuant Vert, with three racemes Gules; the shield ensigned of a leopard-skin head ring proper with a demi-sun issuant Or. SUPPORTERS: Two eland proper. MOTTO: "DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UNITY".
Free State Province Coat of Arms	Arms of the Free State The Free State province is located in central South Africa. It was established on 27 April 1994 and includes the former "Orange" Free State province, the homeland of Qwaqwa and the Thaba ‘Nchu area of the former Bophuthatswana. Its capital is Bloemfontein, also the judicial capital of South Africa. The provincial arms were registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 07 May 1999 and are described as follows: ARMS: Per chevron inverted, Or and Vert, the head of an Orange River Lily (Crinum bulbispermum) with three blossoms and four buds slipped proper and a chief dancetty, the peaks terminating in merlons, Azure; the shield ensigned of a circlet Or, embellished with representations of cut diamonds Argent, enamelled Azure against the upper and Vert against the lower facets, heightened of four heads of maize Argent, leaved Or, alternating with as many ears of wheat of the last. SUPPORTERS: Two cheetahs proper. SPECIAL COMPARTMENT: A representation of the Free State plains proper. MOTTO: "KATLEHO KA KOPANO" (Success through Unity).
Gauteng Province Coat of Arms	Arms of Gauteng Gauteng (Sotho for "Place of Gold") province was established on 27 April 1994. It was previous part of the former Transvaal province and was initially called Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging (PWV) until December 1994 when it was renamed Gauteng. It is the smallest province in terms of area but it nevertheless highly urbanized containing the country’s largest city, Johannesburg and administrative capital (Pretoria). Johannesburg is the provincial capital. The provincial arms were registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 20 March 1996 and are described as follows: ARMS: Azure, a pick erect Or, accompanied on either side by four shield thongs in pale Argent; the shield ensigned of a coronet comprising a wreathed head ring alternately Argent and Or, heightened of four chemical symbols for iron Argent, alternating with as many honey-bees volant Or. SUPPORTERS: Two lions proper. SPECIAL COMPARTMENT AND MOTTO: Upon three gold staves fesswise, conjoined 2 and 1, supported by two ornamental brackets Or, the motto UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
KwaZulu-Natal Province Coat of Arms	Arms of KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal is located on the eastern seaboard of South Africa. It was established on 27 April 1994 and includes the former province of Natal and the former homeland of KwaZulu. Its capital is located in Pietermaritzburg. The KwaZulu-Natal arms were registered at the Bureau of Heraldry on 03 December 2004 with the following blazon: ARMS: Argent, a fess dancetty Vert, in base, within a bordure dovetailed of the last a Strelitizia flower proper; on a chief dancetty Azure, filled of the first, a mullet Argent. The shield is ensigned of a heading Or, ther upon a Zulu hut proper. Behind the shield a spear and knobkerrie in saltire, proper. SUPPORTERS: On a compartment Vert, the lower edge Or, dexter a lion and sinister a black wildebeest proper. MOTTO: "MASISUKUME SAKHE" (Let us Stand Up and Build).
Mpumalanga Province Coat of Arms	Arms of Mpumalanga Mpumalanga (Where the sun rises) is located in north-east South Africa. It was established on 27 April 1994 and comprises the eastern part of the former Transvaal together with the former homelands of KwaNdebele and KwaNgwane and parts of Bophuthatswana and Lebowa homelands. The provincial capital is located in Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit). The Mpumalanga arms were registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 28 March 1996 with the following description: ARMS: Per bend sinister, inclined in the flanks per fess, Or and Vert, surmounting the partition a bend sinister per bend sinister, all similarly inclined, Azure and Argent, in dexter chief a Barberton daisy Gules, seeded Or; the shield ensigned of a coronet comprising a circlet Or jewelled of lozenges Sable and heightened of four rays alternating with as many Barberton daisies, Or. SUPPORTERS: Two kudu proper. MOTTO: "OMNIA LABOR VINCIT" (Work conquers all).
Northern Cape Province Coat of Arms	Arms of the Northern Cape The Northern Cape is located in north-west South Africa and was formerly part of the Cape Province. It was established on 27 April 1994 and its capital is located in Kimberley. It is the largest province by area with the lowest population. The arms of the Northern Cape were registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 21 January 1998 with the following blazon: ARMS: Per fess Gules and Azure, a lozenge Argent charged with a thorn tree proper, in base two barrulets wavy counter changed and in chief two daisies Or; the shield ensigned of a coronet comprising a circlet Or, embellished of Azure and lozengy Gules San beadwork, fimbriated Argent, heightened of six beadwork torteaux, each charged with an annulet of beadwork Or, there between as many merlons embowed of beadwork, also Or. SUPPORTERS: Dexter an oryx (Gazella dorcas) and sinister a kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). SPECIAL COMPARTMENT: A rocky ground. MOTTO: "Sa //a !aisi 'uisi" (We go good life) in Auni, a San language from the Kalahari Gemsbok Park region of Gordonia.
Limpopo Province Coat of Arms	Arms of Limpopo Province Limpopo Province is the northern most province of South Africa which was established on 27 April 1994 and includes parts of the former Transvaal and former Lebowa homeland and all of the former homelands of Venda and Gazankulu. Its capital is located in Polokowane (formerly Pietersburg). The Limpopo provincial arms were registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 23 March 1998 with the following description: ARMS: Or, a baobab tree and a chief wavy, Vert; the shield ensigned of a circlet Or, heightened of eight cycad leaves supported by sets of buffalo horns, Argent. SUPPORTERS: Two buffalos proper. SPECIAL COMPARTMENT: An undulating compartment, Vert above and Sable below, the lower edge Or. MOTTO: "PEACE, UNITY AND PROSPERITY".
North West Province Coat of Arms	Arms of the North West Province The North West Province was established on 27 April 1994 and comprises the western portion of the former Transvaal, the north eastern part of the former Cape Province and parts of the former Bophuthatswana homeland. Its capital is located in Mafikeng (formerly Mafeking). The arms of the North West Province were registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 07 May 1999 with the following blazon: ARMS: Per saltire Gules and Azure, a saltire quadrate Vert, fimbriated Argent, charged in the centre with a representation of a calabash water container within a leather thong cradle, Or; the shield ensigned of a circlet edged Argent, the centre Or, resting thereupon a pair of horns Argent supporting a sunflower proper. SUPPORTERS: Two sable antelopes proper, horned and unguled Or. MOTTO: "KAGISO LE TSWELELOPELE" (Peace and prosperity).
Western Cape Province Coat of Arms	Arms of the Western Cape The Western Cape is located in south-west South Africa and was part of the former Cape Province. It was established on 27 April 1994. Its capital is in Cape Town, which is also the legislative capital of South Africa. The arms of the Western Cape were registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 04 December 1998 with the following description: ARMS: Argent, on a pile embowed inverted throughout Azure, a Khoi clay pot with a conical base and two horizontally pierced lugs, Or, between in chief dexter an anchor Gules and sinister a bunch of grapes slipped and leaved proper; the shield ensigned of a coronet comprising a circlet Or, embellished of beadwork indented Gules and Azure heightened of six protea flowers Or, seeded Argent alternating with as many annulets, Or. SUPPORTERS: Dexter a quagga (Equus quagga quagga) and sinister a bontebok (Damasileus dorcas dorcas) proper. SPECIAL COMPARTEMENT: A stylized representation of Table Mountain Azure, bearing a riband with the fold-backs in the form of two ostrich feathers, Or. MOTTO: "SPES BONA" (Good Hope).

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Coat of Arms of the Former Provinces of South Africa

Some areas of South Africa enjoyed periods of independence as self-governing states before being incorporated into modern day South Africa. They would include the following:

Arms of Cape Province 1876–1994	Arms of Cape of Good Hope Province Commonly known as the Cape Province (Kaapprovinsie in Afrikaans), this was the largest of the former provinces of South Africa. It was previously a British colony which was preceded by an earlier Dutch colony of the same name which had been established in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch lost the colony to Britain following the 1795 Battle of Muizenberg, but had it returned following the 1802 Peace of Amiens. It was re-occupied by the British following the Battle of Blaauwberg in 1806, and British possession was affirmed with the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814. The Cape Colony then remained part of the British Empire, becoming self-governing in 1872, before uniting with three other British colonies to form the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910. With the establishment of the new political dispensation in South Africa on 27 April 1994, the Cape Province was partitioned into the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, and a smaller portion went to the North West Province. The Cape Colonial Arms were granted by Royal Warrant on 29 May 1876 and are described as: For Arms Gules a Lion rampant between three Annulets Or, on a Chief Argent as many hurts each charged with a Fleur-de-lis of the second, for the Crest - On a Wreath of the Colours the Figure of Hope proper vested Azure resting the dexter arm on a Rock supporting with the sinister hand an Anchor Sable entwined with a Cable also proper, and for the Supporters On the dexter side a Gnu and on the sinister side an Oryx (gems buck) both proper, together with this motto "SPES BONA" (Good Hope) .
Colony of Natal Seal/Badge 1869 Colony (later province) of Natal Coat of Arms 1907-1955 Province of Natal Coat of Arms 1955-1994	Arms of Natal Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese because it was first reached by the Vasco da Gama expedition at that time of the year, was the smallest of the former provinces located on the north eastern coast of South Africa. After the British government annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, it was proclaimed a British colony on 04 May 1843 and on 31 May 1910 it amalgamated with the three other British colonies to form the Union of South Africa. As a British colony, Natal´s first official symbol was a Public Seal, authorized by Queen Victoria in 1846. The seal was of a standard pattern which first came into use on the Great Seal of Newfoundland in 1839 and was described as follows: Within a Chippendale-type frame, a on plain, two Wildebeest in full course at random (to sinister), with the words COLONY OF NATAL beneath the frame. The frame itself is ensigned with the Royal Arms and around the circumference appears the legend VICTORIA DEI GRATIA BRITANNIAR. REG. F.D. The London College of Arms was not prepared to recognize this seal as the Arms of the Colony and a new Coat of Arms was granted by Royal Warrant on 16 May 1907 with the following blazon: Azure in front of mountains and on a plain two Black Wildebeesten in full course at random, all proper. The Arms remained in use after Natal became a province of the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910. However, in 1955 permission was granted for the addition of a "Royal" Crown. Once the confusion surrounding whether this should be a Tudor Crown or St Edward´s Crown, the blazon issued in 1907 was amended with the addition of the following: ...the shield ensigned with a crown consisting of a circlet with eight crosses pattée and four arches surmounted of a cross pattée Or, with a cap of estate Sable. Although the word NATAL was added to the riband beneath the shield, this was not mentioned in the blazon. These Arms were in use until 26 April 1994, following which Natal, together with the former KwaZulu homeland, formed the KwaZulu-Natal province.
Orange Free State Arms 1856-1902/1955-1994 Orange Free State (badge detail) Orange River Colony Coat of Arms 1904-1910	Arms of the Orange Free State The Orange Free State (Oranje-Vrijstaat in Dutch and later Oranje-Vrystaat in Afrikaans) was an independent Boer sovereign republic during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa after 31 May 1910. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province. Extending between the Orange and Vaal rivers, it was initially established during the Great Trek when the Voortrekkers left the Cape Colony in 1824 and moved into the hinterland of what is today South Africa. When the Republic of the Orange Free State came into being on 23 February 1854 it possessed no national symbols. A request was made to King William III of the Netherlands to grant the territory a flag and arms. This request was granted and on 28 January 1856 the Volksraad (parliament) approved the design provided by King William with the following blazon: On a shield Argent, between three bugle horns Azure, garnished and stringed Gules, a representation of the seal of the Orange Free State Republic as adopted in 1856, viz on a white roundel, in chief a tree on an island, between dexter, three sheep and sinister, a natural lion supporting the tree with his dexter paw, in base a Voortrekker wagon on an island all proper; on a ribbon draped fesswise, the motto "GEDULD EN MOED" (patience and courage), above the tree the word VRYHEID (liberty) and below the wagon the word IMMIGRATIE (immigration); behind the shield on two staves with ball and spear points Or, two flags of the same Republic draped on both sides, each with seven stripes visible, alternatively white and orange and a canton of three stripes, red, white and blue. The arms and flag were taken into official use on the third anniversary of the establishment of the Republic on 23 February 1857. The Republic of the Orange Free State came to an end on 31 May 1910 with the Treaty of the Peace of Vereeniging which signaled the end of the Anglo-Boer War. In its place was established the British controlled Orange River Colony which received a grant of arms approved by Royal Warrant on 10 December 1904 with the following blazon: Argent on a Mound a Springbuck and on a Chief Azure the Imperial Crown all proper. The Orange River Colony amalgamated with the other British colonies to form the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910 to become the Orange Free State province and later reverted back to using the previous republican arms on 25 May 1937. This was not without controversy, particularly around the identification of the “tree” which was not explicitly identified in the original blazon. The wild olive was later adopted as the provincial tree! In 1954 the original Royal Warrant was withdrawn and in 1955 the Orange Free State applied to have its arms, as they had been borne since 1937, recorded in the (London) College of Arms. These arms were later registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 30 October 1967 and remained in use until 27 April 1994, when the Orange Free State became the Free State Province.
Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek Arms 1871-1887, 1881-1902 Province of Transvaal Coat of Arms 1951-1994	Arms of Transvaal After crossing the Vaal River, the Voortekkers originally from the Cape Colony established the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (South African Republic or ZAR) which was formally recognized by Britain in January 1852. On 18 February 1858 the Volksraad (parliament) approved arms for the territory with the following description: On a silver field there shall be placed a Wagon and a Golden Anchor, while an Eagle shall rest upon the Arms. On the right hand side of the Arms a Man in national costume, armed with a gun and accessories. On the left hand side a lion. During the British annexation of the ZAR between 1877 and 1881, the British Royal Arms were used. Following the formal recognition of the ZAR’s independence in 1881, its arms were restored, with many renditions appearing. The ZAR came to an end on 31 May 1902 with the Treaty of the Peace of Vereeniging which signaled the end of the Anglo-Boer War. In its place was established the British controlled Transvaal Colony. The first colonial device used was the King Edward Great Seal similar in design to the first Great Seal of the Union of South Africa but with the words THE TRANSVAAL at the bottom of the rim. The same legend, except for the name of the colony, was used on the Great Seals of the Cape, Natal and Orange River Colonies. No formal arms were used by the Colony, which was incorporated into the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910 as the province of the Transvaal. In a Royal Warrant dated 04 May 1911, the fourth quarter of the shield of the new South African national coat of arms depicting a wagon was assigned to the Transvaal as provincial arms. Following the withdrawal of this Warrant in 1954, new provincial Arms based on that used by the former ZAR were adopted in 1955 and registered with the South African Bureau of Heraldry on 01 March 1966 with the following blazon: Arms: An oval shield per fess, the chief divided per pale: dexter Gules, a natural lion contourne couchant gardant Or; sinister Azure, a bearded man in national dress wearing a hat and a bandolier, and holding in his left hand a gun resting upon the ground; in base Vert, a Voortrekker wagon proper. On an inescutcheon Argent an anchor Sable cabled Gules. Perched on the shield an eagle displayed Or. Behind the shield and draped below on both sides three flags of the South African Republic, green, red, white and blue. Motto: "EENDRACHT MAAKT MAGT" (Unity is Strength). These arms were used until 26 April 1994, after which the Transvaal was divided into the Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West provinces in the new political dispensation in South Africa.

- Images courtesy of Bruce Berry and the South African Bureau of Heraldry -

South African Provincial Coat of Arms(including the Coat of Arms of the Former Provinces of South Africa)

Images courtesy of the South African Bureau of Heraldry - Scanned materials provided by SAVA

South African Provincial Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms of the Former Provinces of South Africa

South African Provincial Coat of Arms
(including the Coat of Arms of the Former Provinces of South Africa)