Tattered SA flag outside Ballito Civic centre a dismal sight

Municipal officials at Ballito’s Civic centre may be well advised to read through the South African Vexillological Association’s (SAVA) long list of flag protocols and take heed of the few do’s and don’ts worth noting about the beloved South African flag.

For future cautions to the average patriot here are few interesting regulations to heed:

If you ever go out celebrating with the South African flag in hand, make sure you have a “designated flag-carrier” in your company. According to SAVA, the flag may never be allowed to touch the ground or floor.

Never allow a person with no sense of direction anywhere near the flag. According to the association, the flag should never be depicted, displayed or flown upside-down. Traditionally, that would be a sign of surrender.

Even if you disagree with that statement, do not surrender without the permission of the relevant authorities, eg the President.

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If the flag is displayed horizontally, the black triangle should be to your left and the red band to uppermost. If displayed vertically, the black triangle should be uppermost and the red band to your left.

If you have decided to display the flag only at night because you are embarrassed at its frail and dirty state – municipal officials please take note – you have wronged the flag, twice.

Firstly, it is insulting to display the flag in a frail or dirty state – even the flagpole needs to be in “a proper state of maintenance”.

Secondly, the flag should not be displayed at night unless appropriately illuminated. Ideally, the flag should be hoisted at the start of the working day and lowered before or at sunset. Lower the flag immediately should the case of load-shedding occur.

If you frequent places where the flag is hoisted the correct protocol when you see an official flag hoisting or lowering ceremony process is to halt. In this instance it is recommended that you halt and stand respectfully to attention for the duration.

If you have committed one, or all, of these offences or if the flag is no longer in a condition to be used, it needs to be rid of, fast. SAVA states that the flag needs to be rid of in a “dignified manner”, preferably by burning.

Here is hoping municipal officials flying the flag outside the Nokukhanya Luthuli Ballito Civic centre take note.

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