I love the SA Rocks badge. I truly do. But there is a problem that I was recently made aware of. The flag on the badge is incorrectly vertically placed.
I know, it makes no sense, that’s what I said when Simon contacted me with this link about the the very same topic.
Basically the problem is this: The red section of the flag in the SA Rocks badge is on the right, it should be on the left.
The explanation goes like this:
The Flag is alike a written document. When you read a document you start from top to bottom, from left to right. According to our Flag, Red is at the top and blue at the bottom. So when the flag is displayed vertically, red should be the first one to be reread, hence it is displayed on the left hand side.
I hope this explanation will be satisfactory.
Themba Mabaso
Director: Bureau of Heraldry
The flag:
The wrong vertical flag:
The right vertical flag:
Wow. Blow me down and call me embarrassed. I will be sorting this out as soon as humanly possible!! If you have a badge on your blog please keep a look for the redone badge when it comes up on SA Rocks. I will blog about it!
Similar Posts:
- The First Article Of Its Kind
Popularity: 2% [?]
September 11th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I would never have known.
In fact I would have opted for the other way myself, because it is normal to show the flag in printed documents with the pole side to the left, and the fly to the right.
But when you show it vertically with the red stripe to the left, you are showing the other side of the flag!
September 11th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
I know! That’s exactly what I initially thought. I have the reworked SA Rocks badge and will be posting it up asap.
September 11th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Actually using the left to right scenario is incorrect.
Flag flying in the wind with black section on the left as mounted on the pole would mean slack, that would be without wind, the red section should be on the right…correct. You don’t see anyone turning the flags upside down on the masts just because there is no wind….
If the rule read left to right applies then the black section needs to be at the bottom the red to the left. As described, we can’t just flip one part and ignore the rest as the “read rule” would then not work.
Please note all other countries where these rules apply. Easiest would be the yanks, they have ample rules on how flag may be used, yip bikini tops…. sigh….
You will however find that the stars are always to the left top when on the pole or right top when aligned down. Hence same rule applied to ZA, means the black section on top red section right…. I know red is communism and should be left… but in this case we will make an exception
September 11th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Andy, I see what you are saying and right now I am very torn. It is kinda hard to not believe the department of Heraldry though… what do you think? Can they possibly have gotten it wrong?
Also, just because the US of A do it one way doesn’t make it inherently correct…
September 12th, 2007 at 11:34 am
@ Andy – the red part has not much to do with communism (although some ‘useful idiots’ in this country still like to support it – a la Big Bob) – it is inherited from the Dutch flag (which was on the pre-1994 flag as well) – top to bottom: red-white-blue. Anyway, that is what I want to believe
Because, actually, there is no meaning in the colors (other than the ANC colors) – red and blue are also the Union Jack colors (on the previous flag too) – here’s the official story:
http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/symbols/flag.htm
December 13th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
I am a frequent reader of your articles and just wanted to let you know you that I really like your articles.
January 24th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here regularly. I am quite sure I’ll learn lots of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
June 22nd, 2011 at 7:28 am
You crafted several very good points there. I did a seek out on the subject matter and found out nearly all people will agree with your blog. I planned to grab your current Rss but it does not work. i will probably keep attempting maybe is actually a local problem. My best wishes, Leona.