DSAC - 3O YEARS OF FREEDOM

As we look back in history and celebrate our 30th Anniversary of Democracy, there is a lot that we have gained as a country. Our national symbols, may be new, as compared to other countries, but they have made a mark and are recognized internationally. The South African flag, which is our primary identity, is always flown high during international sporting events as well as in the music scene. This is testimony to the never dying spirit of the people of South Africa.

NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF SA

South Africa is a country respected in terms of conflict resolution. The peaceful transformation to democracy was widely observed by the media with interest. Now that South Africa has reached the 30th Anniversary of Democracy, we can look back with pride at the achievements gained thus far. What made this country succeed is a quest for unity and nation building. This quest is best expressed in the national symbols designed since 1994.

Each and every country in the world has national symbols. The raising of the new flag always marks the birth of a new country. This also happened when this country marked the passage from the apartheid era to the dawning of democracy.

National symbols are not innocent graphic works but are strong statements communicated to the citizens of a country, and to the world as a whole. The symbols are designed and used with a clear vision. To us in South Africa, that vision was and still is unity and nation building. This vision was in response to a divided past under apartheid policies. On studying South African national symbols, a common thread can be noticed – that of a quest for nation building and social cohesion.

National Symbols are those symbols adopted by the country and its people. With the dawn of democracy in South Africa, it has been an imperative matter to ensure that national symbols are representative of a new value system, and also that they are accepted by all.

The South African Flag

The South African flag is unique in the world. Whilst most of the flags are predominantly three colours, the South African flag has six. One would argue that the design is not cost effective, but the objectives were not economically motivated, but to display a deep desire for unity in diversity approach. The central design expresses the idea of unifying what started as two separate streams.

The same theme is echoed by the National Anthem. In 1993 during the multiparty negotiations, a call for a composition of the National Anthem was made. About 119 entries were received. A short list of six anthems was made. The short listed anthems included "Die Stem" and "Nkosi Sikelel'iAfrika". The two anthems became the contenders, and a debate on their utilization started on 21 October 1993 by the Negotiating Counsil. It was in February `994 that the issue of the anthem delegated by the Transition Executive Committee to a sub-committee, comprising of Mr. Cyril Ramaphose and Mr. Roelf Meyer. The recommendations of this sub-committee saw the then President Nelson Mandela proclaiming both anthems as official. This proclamation was published in the government Gazette on April 20 1994. Both anthems were sung during the inauguration of the new President.

The former President of South Africa, Mr. Nelson Mandela promoted both anthems and warned that they should not be used to divide but to unite the nation. Singing the two anthems proved to be effective in terms of nation building but was time consuming. It was in late 1994 that Prof. JSM Khumalo was assigned by his committee to shorten the anthem. The shorter version was approved on 19 April 1995.

The composition of the South African anthem took into consideration the following roles, and has to a larger extent fulfilled them in many ways:

• Nation building

• Unity in diversity

• A cultivation of patriotism

• Land marking of South African history

• The expression of love, faith, hope, and loyalty towards South Africa and the continent

The story of the finalization of the anthem displayed the willingness of South Africans to compromise for the sake of unity. It is this quest that has made South Africa to be fancied by other nations.

The National Coat of Arms is the national symbol that overtly expresses the theme of unity in diversity, hence the motto, which is in Khoisan language - meaning diverse people unite. The central image which depicts two human figures in an attitude of greeting, places further emphasis on the issue of unity.

The secondary national symbols, sometimes referred to as the living national symbols, were adopted from the past. These include the national flower: King Protea, the national animal: the springbok, the national tree: the yellowwood, the national bird: the blue crane, and the national fish: the galjoen.

These living symbols are testimony to wide and diverse natural inheritance this country is endowed with.

The birth of a new non–racial and non-sexist democracy in South Africa necessitated a critical review of the system of Nation Orders. The previous system consisted of one decoration and four orders, whose symbolic aesthetic was representative of the past.

Seeking to move away from the past, in May 1998, the newly – instituted President’s Advisory Council on National Orders was given the task and responsibility to review the system of National Orders and awards.

To implement the task, a technical committee was set up. This committee embarked on an extensive and inclusive research process that involved public consultations, interviews with stakeholders on a national scale, group discussions focusing on alternative systems, the commissioning of historical research, and the gathering of jewelry and medal designers to design and medals through a design brief.

As part of this process, the then Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in co-operation with the Government Communications and Information Systems investigated further symbols and symbolism to capture the essence of a new aesthetic that will reflect the spirit of a new country.

A panel of academics and specialists versed in indigenous symbols and symbolism were asked to identify key factors and elements that denote the collective and inclusive history and

experience of Africa with South Africa as the main point of reference. That is how the new National Orders were developed.

NATIONAL ORDERS

National Orders are the highest awards that a country, through its President, bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals.

The emphasis on the design for the National Orders is:

• That they must be simple

• That they capture indigenous symbols and cultural heritage

• That they reflect an inclusive history of South Africa as an African state

The objectives of the new designs are:

• To reflect the ethos and values of the rich diversity of South African traditions

• To include indigenous symbols and systems of awards

• To redress imbalances created by the past policies.