Last modified: 2015-07-28 by bruce berry
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As with all the former provinces forming South Africa between 1910 and 1994, Natal did not have an official provincial flag.
The Union of South Africa was created on 31 May 1910 comprising the British
colonies of the Cape of Good Hope,
Natal, Orange River Colony and
Transvaal. Each colony became a province of South
Africa. None of the provinces of the
Union had an official flag and only the South African national flag was used.
The wildebeest in the second quarter of the Arms of the Union (later Republic) of
South Africa represented Natal.
Bruce Berry, 31 May 1999
On your page for Natal Province there is a link to Transkei. It's not
clear to me why there is such a link, although they were neighbours, since
no part of Transkei (the "independent" Bantustan) was incorporated into
Natal (or KwaZulu-Natal).
One part of the former Transkeian Territories was incorporated into Natal.
Griqualand East was included in the
Transkeian Territories General Council (known as the Bunga) under the name
of Emboland, but later reverted to a status distinct from Transkei. Although
the high-lying areas of Griqualand East (in the Matatiele district) had
a largely black population (speaking Xhosa and some Sotho), the Kokstad
district and parts of Matatiele had a population of Griqua origin with
many white land-owners.
For this reason Griqualand East was not included in the
National
Party's plans for an independent Transkei, and when that state took
its "independence" in 1976, Griqualand East was an exclave of the Cape
Province.
Although the Constitution required the central government to consult
with provinces over boundary changes, Pretoria arbitrarily allocated Griqualand
East to Natal. Since it had been a Natalian dream since the 19th century
to incorporate the territory, that province accepted the change with alacrity.
The municipalities of Kokstad and Matatiele became Natal boroughs, while
the Griqualand East Divisional Council became a local office of the Natal
Provincial Administration.
A consequence of the incorporation of Griqualand East was that the
Umzimkulu district of Transkei became an exclave in Natal. However, the
inhabitants were loyal to Transkei (or at any rate to a Xhosa-speaking
connection as opposed to a Zulu-speaking one), and refused to consider
incorporation into KwaZulu.
When boundaries for the provinces were re-examined in 1993-94, the
Boundary Commission recommended the return of Griqualand East to the new
Eastern Cape Province. However, KwaZulu-Natal
resisted this and remains in possession, despite attempts by the Eastern
Cape administration to set up regional offices in Kokstad.
Mike Oettle, 16 Dec 2001
