South Africa
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afrol.com, 26 August - South African Parliament yesterday launched a process to develop new symbols for both Houses of Parliament. These symbols would be appropriate for the values and ethos of a democratic country on the African continent. The current symbols are of colonial origin and were characterised by the exclusion of the majority of the population.

We are now calling on the public to make submissions on the following symbols which South Africans can design anew:

1. The Mace:
The Mace of the National Assembly is placed before the Speaker's chair when the House is in session.

2. The Black Rod:
The Black Rod of the National Council of Provinces is placed before the chair of the Presiding Officer, when the Council is in session.

3. Serjeant-At-Arms/Usher of the Black Rod
The ceremonial dress of the Serjeant-At-Arms and the Usher of the Black Rod is worn when the Mace and Rod are carried into the Chambers. The Mace is carried into the National Assembly and the Black Rod into the National Council of Provinces.

4. Emblem
The emblem of Parliament appears on all the stationery of Parliament, on the walls of the Houses, and on the chairs of the Presiding Officers in each House. On the emblem of Parliament the Mace and the Black Rod represent the Westminster Tradition, whilst the shield represents the four colonies from which South Africa was composed in 1910. The emblem also includes the old South African Coat of Arms.

Parliament's Joint Rules Committee has agreed that the new designs of these symbols should reflect the following criteria:
* Africa
* Our multi-cultural society
* A break with the past and a new beginning
* Unity of our people
* The stature and dignity of the institution
* Historical continuity
* Democracy

The new symbols should also take into account the changed National Coat of Arms and should be attractive, distinctively African, dignified, heraldic, meaningful and simple.

The public on all corners of South Africa are called upon to send their submissions to Parliament for consideration. The submissions should be in writing, or as drawings, and should be sent to: Secretary to Parliament, P O Box 15, Cape Town, 8000. The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2000

Source: Office of the Speaker, Parliament

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