KEY TAKEAWAYS
- → 46 national half-mast orders came under President Ramaphosa, against 20 under President Zuma. (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026)
- → 10 national orders were issued in 2021, the busiest year in the record. (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026)
- → 24 orders honoured ministers and other politicians, the largest group. (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026)
- → 4 orders marked collective national mourning: Marikana, the 2019 floods, Covid-19 and gender-based violence, and fallen SANDF troops. (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026)
- → 66 more orders lowered the flag in a single province only, usually for one day. (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026)
- → Presidency only Under the official instructions the flag is half-masted only on instructions from The Presidency. (Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001, 2001)
- → 90 cm x 60 cm is the official flag size for stormy weather. (Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001, 2001)
Try it yourself:
You drive past a government building, see the flag sitting halfway down the pole, and wonder who died. A week later it is at half-mast again. If you look after a flagpole at a school, an office park or a hotel, the next question follows quickly: should ours be lowered too, and who decides?
The answer sits in a short government notice that few people have read, and in hundreds of scattered Presidency statements that nobody had added up. So we did. Flags Online traced every national half-mast order we could find on gov.za and counted them: the flag has been lowered across the whole country at least 68 times since 2006 (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026). Most were for individual funerals. Only a handful marked a shared national tragedy.
This guide gives you the full dated record, the official rules in plain language, and a quick tool that shows exactly where your flag should sit on your pole. If you need a flag that meets the official proportions, our South African flag range covers the standard sizes.
1 How Often Is the South African Flag Flown at Half-Mast? At Least 68 Times
Flags Online traced 68 national half-mast orders in statements published on gov.za between May 2006 and August 2026 (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026). Of those, 46 came under President Ramaphosa and 20 under President Zuma. A further 66 orders lowered the flag in one province only, giving 134 orders in total.
| MEASURE | ORDERS | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| National half-mast orders traced, 2006 to August 2026 | 68 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Under President Zuma (2009 to February 2018) | 20 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Under President Ramaphosa (February 2018 to August 2026) | 46 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Busiest year: 2021 | 10 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Orders in 2018 | 8 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Orders in 2020 | 8 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Orders in 2025 | 6 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Province-only orders | 66 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| All orders traced | 134 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
The pace has picked up. The Zuma years produced 20 national orders that we could trace, while the Ramaphosa presidency has already produced 46. Part of that gap is record-keeping, because older statements are less completely archived online. Part of it is real: the generation that led the struggle against apartheid and built the first democratic government is passing on, and each loss tends to be marked with an official funeral.
The busiest year was the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 10 national orders. In a year like that, a flag station that follows every instruction spends many weeks with its flag lowered, which is hard on the fabric. A flag at half-mast flaps closer to the pole, to buildings and to trees, so it pays to check your aluminium flag poles and halyards before the next order arrives.
Province-only orders are a separate category. They are usually worded for the day of a funeral in one province, so a flag in Gauteng may be lowered while one in the Western Cape stays at the top.
2 Who Is the Flag Lowered For? Politicians Lead, Struggle Veterans Follow
Of the 68 national orders, 62 honoured named individuals (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026). Ministers and other politicians account for 24, struggle veterans for 15, judges and lawyers for 8, and kings and traditional leaders for 7. Diplomats, artists, business leaders and a religious leader make up the rest.
| GROUP HONOURED | NATIONAL ORDERS | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| Ministers and other politicians | 24 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Struggle veterans | 15 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Judges and lawyers | 8 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Kings and traditional leaders | 7 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Diplomats | 4 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Collective national mourning | 4 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Artists and business leaders | 3 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Foreign leaders | 2 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
| Religious leaders | 1 | Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za |
Serving and former ministers, deputy ministers, a former president, a Speaker and two former deputy presidents form the largest group. That is by design: South Africa’s funeral policy ties official funerals to public office, and the half-mast instruction usually arrives in the same statement that declares the funeral.
Struggle veterans are the second-largest group, from Albertina Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada to Andrew Mlangeni and Gertrude Shope. Judges are honoured more often than many people would guess, including three former chief justices or Constitutional Court judges in the early years of the record.
The most striking shift is the rise of traditional leaders. Every one of the national orders for a king or senior traditional leader has come since 2019, including King Goodwill Zwelithini and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Artists and business figures remain rare: a poet, a musician and a businessman are the only three in twenty years. For more on what the flag itself stands for, see our guide to the South African flag colours.
3 When Does the Whole Nation Mourn? Only 4 Orders in 20 Years
Only 4 national orders marked collective mourning: the Marikana tragedy, the 2019 floods, the victims of Covid-19 and gender-based violence, and South African soldiers killed in 2025 (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026). Another 2 honoured foreign leaders. The longest single period in the record ran from 9 March until the evening of the 22nd March 2015.
| OCCASION | FLAG AT HALF-MAST | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| Marikana tragedy, 2012 | 20 to 26 of August | President Zuma declares period of mourning (gov.za) |
| Flood victims, 2019 | 1 to 7 May 2019 | President Ramaphosa declares national period of mourning for flood victims (gov.za) |
| Covid-19 and gender-based violence victims, 2020 (five days) | 6am to 6pm | President Ramaphosa address on Covid-19, 11 November 2020 (gov.za) |
| Fallen SANDF troops, 2025 | seven days | President Ramaphosa orders half-masting to honour fallen troops (gov.za) |
| Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, 2021 | 10 days | President Ramaphosa mourns President Kenneth Kaunda (gov.za) |
| Fidel Castro of Cuba, 2016 | 29 November 2016 | President Zuma attends funeral of President Fidel Castro (gov.za) |
| Moses Kotane and JB Marks reburial, 2015 | 9 March until the evening of the 22nd March 2015 | President Zuma declares special official funerals for Moses Kotane and JB Marks (gov.za) |
| Nelson Mandela, 2013: lowered from | 6 December | Address to the nation by President Zuma on the departure of Nelson Mandela (gov.za) |
Collective mourning is the exception. After Marikana the flag was lowered from 20 to 26 of August (President Zuma declares period of mourning (gov.za), 2012). After the floods it was lowered from 1 to 7 May 2019 (President Ramaphosa declares national period of mourning for flood victims (gov.za), 2019). The pandemic order was unusual because it set hours as well as dates, with the flag at half-mast from 6am to 6pm over five days (President Ramaphosa address on Covid-19, 11 November 2020 (gov.za), 2020). The most recent, for soldiers killed on deployment, ran for seven days (President Ramaphosa orders half-masting to honour fallen troops (gov.za), 2025).
Foreign leaders are rarer still. The flag was lowered on the day of Fidel Castro’s funeral and for a mourning period of 10 days after the death of Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda (President Ramaphosa mourns President Kenneth Kaunda (gov.za), 2021). For Nelson Mandela, flags were lowered from 6 December and stayed down until after the funeral (Address to the nation by President Zuma on the departure of Nelson Mandela (gov.za), 2013).
The longest stretch we found was not for a death at all but for a homecoming: the reburial of Moses Kotane and JB Marks, whose remains were brought back from Russia (President Zuma declares special official funerals for Moses Kotane and JB Marks (gov.za), 2015). If you fly several nations’ flags, our count of African flag colours is a useful companion to this record.
4 Who Can Order Half-Mast, and How Do You Do It Correctly?
Under the official instructions, the national flag is half-masted as a sign of mourning only on instructions from The Presidency (Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001, 2001). To do it, the flag is first hoisted to the top of the flagstaff, then lowered slowly until the centre of the flag is half-way between the top and bottom of the pole. Before it is taken down at sunset it must first be hoisted to the top again.
| RULE | WHAT THE NOTICE SAYS | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| Who may order half-masting | only on instructions from The Presidency | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| First step | hoisted to the top of the flagstaff | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Half-mast position | centre of the flag is half-way | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Before lowering at sunset | first be hoisted to the top | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Types of official flag station listed | 12 | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
This is the rule most often broken with good intentions. A school loses a much-loved teacher, or a company loses its founder, and someone lowers the national flag. The official instructions do not allow for that. The respectful alternative is to lower your own flag. A branded flag on your own flagpole, whether corporate or school, can be half-masted whenever you choose, while the national flag stays at the top.
There is a detail that almost every summary misses. The notice is written for official flag stations, and it lists 12 types, from Parliament and the courts to airports and police stations (Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001, 2001). It sets no penalty for a private flag owner. So a business is not policed on this, but the notice is the standard the state holds itself to, and it is the standard your visitors will judge you by.
Half-mast is also a physical test of your setup. The flag has to travel to the top before it is lowered, so a jammed halyard or a short pole shows up at the worst moment. On ground flag poles check that a half-masted flag clears walkways and parked vehicles; on building-mounted flag poles check that it clears the wall and windows. The tool further down this page does the sum for you, and the game below lets you practise the whole routine.
Try It: Can You Half-Mast the Flag by the Rules?
Reading the rules is one thing; getting them right on the pole is another. Hoist the flag, choose your lowering speed, decide what to do at midday and take it down at sunset. The game scores every step against the official notice, so you will know exactly where you would have gone wrong before it matters.
Raise It Right
Half-mast the South African flag the official way, from sunrise to sunset.
Hold a button to move the flag. Let go to stop.
Rules: Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001. The Notice says the flag is “lowered slowly” to half-mast without setting a speed, and sets no speed for taking it down at sunset; in this game only Slow counts as slow. Pole 6 m, flag 180 × 120 cm.
5 What Are the Everyday Rules for Flying the South African Flag?
The flag’s proportion is 2 to 3 and it is flown from sunrise to sunset (Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001, 2001). The official sizes run from 360 cm x 540 cm at the Union Buildings down to 90 cm x 60 cm for stormy weather. With other flags it is hoisted first and lowered last, and there are 4 things it must never be used for.
| RULE | DETAIL | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion, width to length | 2 to 3 | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Daily flying hours | sunrise to sunset | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Largest official size | 360 cm x 540 cm | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Ceremonial size | 270 cm x 180 cm | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Ordinary size | 180 cm x 120 cm | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Stormy weather size | 90 cm x 60 cm | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Designated ceremonial day | Freedom Day: 27 April | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Things the flag must never do | 4 | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Flown with other flags | hoisted first and lowered last | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
The storm rule is the most practical line in the whole notice. Officials are told to fly the small flag when a larger one, the halyards or the flagstaff are likely to be damaged. The same logic applies to any business on the Highveld in storm season or on the Cape coast in a south-easter, and it is why a 90 x 60 cm South African flag is worth keeping in the storeroom.
The four prohibitions are short enough to remember. The flag must not touch the floor or the ground, must not be used as a tablecloth or draped in front of a platform, must not cover a statue or plaque at an unveiling, and must not be used to start or finish a race. Indoors, the flag stands on the speaker’s right, which is the audience’s left. A weighted staff from our indoor flag poles range keeps it upright and off the floor.
When the national flag flies with other countries’ flags, all should be about the same size and at the same height, with South Africa’s on the left as the observer sees it. With a company or school flag on separate poles, the national flag takes the middle, the observer’s left or the highest point. Our guide to buying country flags in South Africa covers matching sizes and materials.
6 What Does the Law Say About the Old South African Flag?
On 21 April 2023 the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that gratuitous public display of the old South African flag is hate speech, unfair discrimination and harassment, upholding an Equality Court ruling (GroundUp: Public display of old SA flag is hate speech, rules SCA, 2023). The court left the question of display in private homes undecided. The current flag was first used on 27 April 1994.
| MILESTONE | DATE | SOURCE |
|---|---|---|
| Current national flag first used | 27 April 1994 | South African Government: National flag |
| Earlier flag instructions, later withdrawn | 27 October 1995 | Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001 |
| Current flag instructions published | 8 June 2001 | South African Government: National flag |
| Supreme Court of Appeal ruling on the old flag | 21 April 2023 | GroundUp: Public display of old SA flag is hate speech, rules SCA |
The flag most South Africans know has been in use since 27 April 1994, when it replaced the flag flown under the Union and the apartheid state (South African Government: National flag, 1994). An earlier set of flying instructions, dated 27 October 1995, was withdrawn and replaced by the current notice on 8 June 2001 (South African Government: National flag, 2001).
The old flag is a legal question, not a protocol one. The appeal court’s ruling covers gratuitous public display, and it expressly left display inside private homes to be decided if a case is ever brought. This section is a summary of reported rulings, not legal advice; if you handle historical flags for a museum, a film or a classroom, take proper advice on your specific use.
For the story of how the current design came about, see our history of South Africa's flags and symbols. For flags of other nations to fly alongside it, browse our country flags.
Half-Mast Position Tool and Searchable Record
Methodology
Flags Online searched gov.za in October 2026 for statements about half-masting the national flag and about state, official and provincial official funerals, and read the pages that mention half-mast. Each distinct order to lower the flag across the whole country was recorded once, with the date of the statement and a link, and orders worded for a single province were counted separately. The rules come from Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 8 June 2001, which was downloaded and read in full. The court ruling is taken from GroundUp’s report of the judgment. The record is a minimum: it includes only orders that can still be traced in statements on gov.za, and older statements are less completely archived. A 30-day sweep of Reddit and the web found no newer orders or statistics; the most recent order in the record is dated 28 August 2026. The clearance guidance in the tool is Flags Online’s own and is not part of the official instructions.
- Sources consulted: 487
- Sources cited: 13
- Data freshness: current year: 4, last year: 3, older: 6
- Data range: 2006-05-08 to 2026-08-28
- Research date: 2026-10-02
- Update schedule: After each new presidential half-mast order
- Limitations: The record counts only orders traceable in statements published on gov.za, so it is a minimum, not a complete census; older statements are less fully archived, which understates the years before 2012. Statements that announce a funeral without mentioning the flag are not counted. An order covering two people (Moses Kotane and JB Marks) counts once. Orders worded for one province are counted separately from national orders. Annual police commemoration half-masting is not counted because it is not a presidential mourning order.
Test Yourself: South African Flag Etiquette Quiz
You have read the rules; now see how many stick. Pick your level, Easy, Medium or Hard, answer six quick questions and win up to five stars. You lose a star for each wrong answer, every answer shows its source, and the questions change each time you play, so you can come back and collect all 45 stars.
SA Flag Quiz
Pick your level, answer 6 questions and win up to 5 stars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can order the South African flag to be flown at half-mast?
Under the official flag instructions in Government Gazette 22356, the national flag is half-masted as a sign of mourning only on instructions from The Presidency. In practice the President announces it in a statement, usually when declaring an official funeral. Flags Online traced 68 national orders on gov.za between 2006 and August 2026. (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026)
How do you fly a flag at half-mast correctly?
Hoist the flag to the top of the flagstaff first, then lower it slowly until the centre of the flag is half-way between the top of the pole and the bottom of the flagstaff. Before taking it down at sunset, hoist it to the top again and then lower it. These steps come from Notice 510 of 2001. (Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001, 2001)
How often is the South African flag flown at half-mast?
More often than most people expect. Flags Online traced at least 68 national half-mast orders on gov.za since 2006, 46 of them since February 2018. The busiest year was 2021 with 10 orders. A further 66 orders lowered the flag in one province only. (South African Government: National flag, 2001)
Can a business fly the South African flag at half-mast for its own reasons?
The official instructions reserve half-masting of the national flag for mourning ordered by The Presidency. The notice is written for official flag stations and sets no penalty for private owners, but following it is the respectful standard. To mark a company loss, lower your own corporate flag and keep the national flag at full mast. (Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001, 2001)
What size is the official South African flag?
The flag's proportion is 2 to 3. The official sizes in Notice 510 of 2001 are 360 cm x 540 cm for the Union Buildings and Tuynhuys, 270 cm x 180 cm for ceremonial use, 180 cm x 120 cm for ordinary use and 90 cm x 60 cm for stormy weather. (Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za, 2026)
Is it illegal to display the old South African flag?
On 21 April 2023 the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that gratuitous public display of the old flag is hate speech, unfair discrimination and harassment, upholding an Equality Court ruling. It left the question of display inside private homes undecided. This is a summary of reported rulings, not legal advice. (GroundUp: Public display of old SA flag is hate speech, rules SCA, 2023)
Sources & References
- Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za. “Flags Online record of half-mast orders on gov.za.” gov.za/news/media-statements. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- President Zuma declares period of mourning (gov.za). “President Zuma declares period of mourning (gov.za).” gov.za/news/media-statements/president-zuma-declares-period-mourning-and-appoint. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- President Ramaphosa declares national period of mourning for flood victims (gov.za). “President Ramaphosa declares national period of mourning for flood victims (gov.za).” gov.za/news/media-statements/president-cyril-ramaphosa-declares-national-period-. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- President Ramaphosa address on Covid-19, 11 November 2020 (gov.za). “President Ramaphosa address on Covid-19, 11 November 2020 (gov.za).” gov.za/news/speeches/president-cyril-ramaphosa-progress-national-effort-contain-. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- President Ramaphosa orders half-masting to honour fallen troops (gov.za). “President Ramaphosa orders half-masting to honour fallen troops (gov.za).” gov.za/news/media-statements/president-cyril-ramaphosa-orders-half-masting-natio. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- President Ramaphosa mourns President Kenneth Kaunda (gov.za). “President Ramaphosa mourns President Kenneth Kaunda (gov.za).” gov.za/news/media-statements/president-cyril-ramaphosa-mourns-passing-liberation. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- President Zuma attends funeral of President Fidel Castro (gov.za). “President Zuma attends funeral of President Fidel Castro (gov.za).” gov.za/speeches/president-jacob-zuma-attends-funeral-late-president-fidel-castro. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- President Zuma declares special official funerals for Moses Kotane and JB Marks (gov.za). “President Zuma declares special official funerals for Moses Kotane and JB Marks (gov.za).” gov.za/news/media-statements/president-jacob-zuma-declares-special-official-fune. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Address to the nation by President Zuma on the departure of Nelson Mandela (gov.za). “Address to the nation by President Zuma on the departure of Nelson Mandela (gov.za).” gov.za/news/media-statements/address-nation-president-jacob-zuma-departure-forme. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001. “Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 2001.” gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/223560.pdf. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- South African Government: National flag. “South African Government: National flag.” gov.za/about-sa/national-flag-0. Accessed 2026-10-02.
- GroundUp: Public display of old SA flag is hate speech, rules SCA. “GroundUp: Public display of old SA flag is hate speech, rules SCA.” groundup.org.za/article/public-display-of-old-sa-flag-is-hate-speech-rules-sca/. Accessed 2026-10-02.
Last updated:
