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Flag of South Africa: six colours and facts for kids

A green Y shape edged in white and gold, with a black triangle at the pole, red above and blue below.

The flag of South Africa has six colours and a Y shape. Here is where it came from, what the Y stands for, and a quick quiz to try.

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What does the flag of South Africa look like?

The flag of South Africa has a green Y shape, edged in white and gold. At the flagpole is a black triangle. Above the Y is red, and below it is blue.

That makes six colours: red, white, blue, green, gold and black.

Where did the flag come from?

The flag was designed by Frederick Brownell, South Africa's state herald, and first flown in 1994. The Y shape stands for different paths coming together.

The colours were left without fixed meanings on purpose. The flag was meant to be used for a short time only, but in 1996 it was made the lasting flag of South Africa.

Flags that share something with South Africa's

This flag uses some of South Africa's colours too. Here is how to tell them apart:

Flags that share something with South Africa's, and how each one differs
FlagHow it differs
JamaicaGreen, gold and black too, but with a gold cross from corner to corner and no red, white or blue.

South Africa in a nutshell

Quick quiz: the flag of South Africa

Try these, then tap Show answer under each one.

  1. How many capital cities does South Africa have?

    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4

    3. Pretoria for the government, Cape Town for parliament and Bloemfontein for the courts.

  2. How many official languages does South Africa have?

    • 2
    • 5
    • 12
    • 20

    12. South Africa has 12 official languages, including South African Sign Language.

  3. In which year was South Africa's flag first flown?

    • 1910
    • 1961
    • 1994
    • 2010

    1994.

  4. True or false: South Africa completely surrounds another country, Lesotho.

    True.

  5. True or false: each colour on South Africa's flag has one fixed, official meaning.

    False. The colours were left without fixed meanings on purpose.

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