Governor General of South Africa

Last modified: 2005-06-11 by bruce berry
Keywords: south africa | governor general |
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• Background to the flags of the Governor-General of South Africa (1910-1961)
• Emblem of the Governor-General
• Flag of the Governor-General (1931-1953)
• Flag of the Governor-General (1953-1961)

• South Africa
• South African President
• South Africa: national index

Background to the flags of the Governor-General of South Africa (1910-1961)

When the Union of South Africa came into being on 31 May 1910, it was as a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire.  Britain was represented in South Africa by a Governor-General who was also High Commissioner and whose responsibilities extended to the adjacent colonies of Basutoland and Swaziland and the Bechuanaland Protectorate.  It was then considered that these territories might, at some future date, be incorporated into the Union of South Africa.

South Africa remained a Dominion until 1961 when, following a referendum amongst the whites-only voters, it became a republic on 31 May and later withdrew from the British Commonwealth.  With the change to a republican form of government, the office of the Governor-General was abolished and a President became the Head of State. A distinctive flag for the President was also adopted to replace the flag of the Governor-General.  This flag followed the design of the former Governor-General's flag in that it was also