South African President

Last modified: 2005-08-26 by bruce berry
Keywords: south africa | president |
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• Background to the State President of South Africa
• President's flag (1961-1984)
• President's flag (1984-1994)
• President's flag (1994 - )
   

• South Africa
• South Africa Governor-General
• South Africa: national index

Background to the State President of South Africa

Following the creation of the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910, South Africa was a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire (later Commonwealth). A Governor-General represented the British Crown and flew a distinctive flag, in common with other Governors and Governor's-General in the Commonwealth .   Following a referendum held in October 1960 on the issue in which 850 458 whites voted for republican status versus 775 878 who voted against, South Africa became a republic on 31 May 1961. It had become clear for some time that South Africa's internal racial policies (apartheid) were cause for concern amongst many of the newly independent members of the Commonwealth and that there had been calls for the country to be expelled.  On becoming a republic South Africa withdrew from the Commonwealth.

With the change to a republican form of government, the Governor-General was replaced with a President as Head of State. A new Presidential flag was hoisted for the first time at Government House (later known as the Presidensie) in Pretoria on the day of the State President's inauguration. 
Bruce Berry, 20 May 2002

President's flag (1961-1984)

The first South African Presidential flag, like