Context (Related Documents)
An information leaflet about the Masithandane project reads, 'A group of indigent women, a heap of used plastic litter, a crochet hook or two, a pair of scissors and plenty of determination. That, in a nutshell, is how Grahamstown's Masithandane Association began. Born of a need to empower township women with skills which would enable them to generate their own income instead of depending on hand-outs, the Association was formed after a group of six women were encouraged to turn used plastic bags into attractive hats, bags and mats. Grahamstown - like many other South African towns - is plagued by the plastic litter problem. In an effort to clean up the township environment, needy folk obtaining meals from community kitchens in the area were encouraged to 'pay' for their meals by picking up a plastic bag and handing it in at the kitchen. With more than enough raw material to work with, the women set to work with a will to master a new skill. With great ingenuity and imagination, they were soon creating a variety of headgear, which found a ready market in the community. More women joined the group, and began experimenting with traditional beadwork. This too proved to be saleable. Outlets for their goods were found locally and overseas, and several large commissions for specific items were fulfilled - creating much-needed income for the women involved as all funds generated by the sale of the goods revert directly to the individual crafters. Along with their newly-acquired skills with hooks, plastic, beads and needles, the women rekindled a pride in their traditional Xhosa culture, and expanded the Association's activities to include making and wearing traditional garments. Word of their achievements spread. Visitors to Grahamstown - overseas tourists in particular - who purchased the Masithandane goods from local gift shops were keen to meet the women and see how the goods were made. Visitors to the converted shipping container in the township in which the women gathered to work were arranged. For many tourists, being greeted in song by women in traditional dress in an authentic township setting was their first taste of the 'real' South Africa. Thus a new tourist attraction for the city was created. Encouraged by their success, and keen to increase their involvement in tourism, the Masithandane Association decided to spread its wings a little further and provide traditional meals for visitors. Undaunted by the fact that they had no suitable premises, they prepared al fresco meals, cooking over open fires. These 'Xhosa picnics' have become a popular adjunct to their crafting activities and several tour groups now visit regularly. No longer a strictly female preserve, the Association now has several male members - including an Imbongi (Xhosa praise singer), a herbalist, a pipe-maker and an artist. Members of the Association have worked hard to acquire a building to use as a tourist centre-cum-community training centre, where visitors can see the members at work, enjoy a traditional meal and purchase handicrafts. Visitors wishing to visit a Shebeen or overnight in the township can be accommodated in members' homes by arrangement. Your support of the Masithandane Association will help its members realise their dream - to create a sustainable community project and encourage other community groups to do likewise'. (See a copy of this leaflet in MAA's archives).
Event Date
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Context (Production / use)
This brooch was made by Lillian Nobebe of the Masithandane project. Lillian is from Grahamstown and started working with the project in 1993. She stated that the brooch took about two days to make. The beads are acquired from Cape Town and the safety pin from Port Elizabeth.
Event Date 2000
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Context (Field collection)
This brooch was purchased on 11 April 2000 at Masithandane, Joza township, Grahamstown. Masithandane was winner of the 1997 Women in Tourism Award in the Eastern Cape.

This object was collected by Julia Tanner while undertaking fieldwork in South Africa from March-May 2000. The fieldwork was financed by MAA's Crowther-Beynon Fund, in order to research and update MAA's South African collections.



Event Date 11/4/2000
Author: maa

Context (Analysis)
The new flag of democratic South Africa is a popular and frequently used symbol on all manner of objects. For example, also see the beadwork flag badge in this collection. Information about the flag and its significance was prominently displayed in a number of South African museums during the period of research (ie. March to May 2000). The following information from the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, was exhibited on display stands at the African Window museum, Pretoria: 'What do the colours and shapes on our flag mean? While the colours do not have any official symbolism, the designer, Fred Brownell (South African State Herald and former South African Vexillological Association Chairperson), says they represent a synopsis of the country's history and current political realities. Shapes: The central design of the flag, beginning at the flagpost in a 'V' form and flowing into a single horizontal band to the outer edge of the flag, can be interpreted as the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, both past and present, now taking the road ahead in unity. The theme of convergence and unity ties in with the motto of the National Coat of Arms, 'Unity is Strength'. Colours: Black, green and gold which were first incorporated into the South African national flags in the 19th century also feature prominently in the flags of the liberation movements, particularly those of the A.N.C. and the Pan-Africanist Congress. Blue, white and red reflect the British and Dutch influence which also feature in the former South African flag. The green pall is commonly interpreted to mean the unification of the various ethnic groups in South Africa as the country moves into a new democratic era. Which way does the flag go? The red stripe goes on top! Specific instructions with regard to the use of the national flag can be found in the Government Gazette, Volume 346, number 15694 of 26 April 1994. To summarise: anybody may fly the national flag, even at their private homes, day and night. At night the flag must be lit up, otherwise it should be lowered at sunset and raised again at sunrise. The flag must always have the red stripe upward. If the flag is attached vertically to a wall, the red stripe goes to the left. The flag must always be treated with respect. You may not allow it to touch the floor or the ground, use it as a tablecloth or in front of a platform, use it as a cover for anything to be ceremonially unveiled, or to be used to start or finish any race, competition or similar event. Why should we celebrate our National Flag? This is the first flag we have had in South Africa that came out of South Africa. The other flags were imposed on us by colonisers, or grew out of previous flags. This flag has no direct relationship or symbolism derived from other flags that South Africa has had. It is a flag that looks to the present and the future instead of to the past. Hoisting: South Africa's new flag was officially hoisted for the first time at one minute past midnight on 27 April 1994. Flag raising ceremonies were held in each of the nine new provincial capitals to the accompaniment of the two new national anthems, Nkosi Sikelel & Afrika and Die Stem van Suid Afrika, in that order. The previous flag was lowered at the flag ceremonies at one minute before midnight on 26 April 1994 to the music of Die Stem van Suid Afrika symbolising the end of the apartheid era and over 300 years of white minority rule in South Africa. Description: The official description of the flag is as follows: The national flag shall be rectangular in the proportion of two in the width to three in the length: per pall from the hoist, the upper band red (chilli) and the lower band blue, with a black triangle at the hoist, over the partition lines a green pall 1/5 the width of the flag, fimbriated white against the red (chilli) and blue, and gold against the black triangle at the hoist; the width of the pall and its fimbriations is 1/3 the width of the flag. Technical Specifications: Colour Specifications: Colour CKS number Pantone number. Green 42c (spectrum green). Black 401c (blue/black). White 701c (national flag white). Gold 724c (gold/yellow). Red 750c (chilli red). Blue 762c (national flag blue). The Way Forward: South African faces many problems. Some have their roots in the past, but that is now gone. Our flag shows us the way we should go. Like the Y of our flag, we must look forward and find ways of dealing with our population increase, with the needs for food, housing, education and medical services. Just as there are many different colours in our flag, we must be prepared to use many different ideas and technologies from many different people and perhaps even from other countries to meet our needs while preserving our country in an undamaged condition as possible. Our country is our greatest resource, not only for a place to live, but as a supplier of all the raw materials we need for our survival. In unity there is strength; regardless of our ethnic origins we are all South Africans and together we can do it'. The exhibition was accompanied by a series of posters entitled, 'The Flag in our daily lives', showing the use of the flag at national events, sporting occasions and to decorate objects. Therefore, the new flag is a powerful icon in a country with it's first democratic government and inclusive national symbols. It is a source of pride, a rallying cry for progress, a sign of hope and unity, a symbol of the triumph of equality over racism.
The Cultural History Museum, Cape Town, also had a display dedicated to the national flag which included newspaper articles, photographs and decorated objects. The Business Times of the Sunday Times (South Africa), 15 May 1994: page 1, ran an article about the new flag entitled, 'Colours Nailed to the Mast': Business has embraced the new South Africa, president and flag. To celebrate the presidential inauguration several companies used the flag in one-off advertisements on Wednesday, proclaiming their joy and good wishes to the Government. But they broke the law. The flag may not be used for advertising. The President's office says, however, that it will not be 'petty' and will not prosecute. Volkswagen used an aerial view of cars and minibuses in different colours portraying the flag. Unidata showed part of, the flag, incorporating a smiling face and body. Advertising agents Young and Rubicon turned the flag perpendicular, used its Y and added R to make YR the name by which it is known in the trade. OK Bazaars used a flag saying: 'S.A., you're OK'. New colours of the flag also used in South African Airlines tail fin.
Objects decorated with the flag included sports outfits, T-shirts, yaght sails, headbands, caps, clocks, playing cards, telephone cards, lighters, tights, keyrings, mugs, bandages, CDs and even condoms.
The national flag has also been transformed into a now commonly used symbol known as the 'Welcome Dudie', which was introduced for Satour's (South African Tourism) Welcome Campaign in order to promote tourism. It depicts an upturned flag with a head and outstretched arms. (See MAA's archives for a copy of; 'Garden Route Tourism Update: The Southern Cape's Tourism Business Letter' [April 1 2000, Edition 15] for an introduction to the 'Welcome Dudie'. Also see the image used on Satour's web site: www.satour.com/)
Other national symbols of South Africa include:
National fish: Galjoen (Distichus capensis)
National animal: Springbok
National bird: Blue Crane
National flower: King Protea
National tree: Real Yellowwood
Event Date 2001
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff

Description (Physical description)
Small rectangular beadwork brooch depicting the South African flag. At the base are 3 triangular blue and red bead tassels. The brooch is made on a safety pin for attachment to clothing. These brooches are worn attached to clothing, often on the chest or upper arm. They are also commonly worn on hats.
Event Date 5/5/2012
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Small rectangular beadwork brooch depicting the South African flag, made by Lillian Nobebe. The flag is made from woven beadwork using small, opaque glass beads in dark blue, white, green, yellow, black, and red. There are three triangular blue and red bead tassels on one side. These brooches are worn attached to clothing, often on the chest or upper arm, or on hats.
Event Date 12/1/2023
Author: Eleanor Beestin-Sheriff