
Heraldry Act, 1962
Act 18 of 1962
- Published in South African Government Gazette 202 on 16 March 1962
- Assented to on 7 March 1962
- Commenced on 1 June 1963 by Commencement of the Heraldry Act, 1962
- [This is the version of this document from 1 April 1984 and includes any amendments published up to 1 December 2023.]
- [Amended by Heraldry Amendment Act, 1969 (Act 54 of 1969) on 7 November 1969]
- [Amended by Heraldry Amendment Act, 1980 (Act 63 of 1980) on 23 May 1980]
- [Amended by Heraldry Amendment Act, 1982 (Act 22 of 1982) on 12 March 1982]
- [Amended by Education and Heraldry Laws Amendment Act, 1984 (Act 6 of 1984) on 1 April 1984]
1. Definitions
In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates -“application” means an application referred to in section 7; and “applicant” has a corresponding meaning;[definition of “application” amended by Act 63 of 1980]“approve” means approve under this Act; and “approval” has a corresponding meaning;[definition of “approve” inserted by Act 63 of 1980]“association” means any association of persons in the Republic, the territory or a foreign country formed for the promotion of sport or for any other lawful purpose, the pursuit of which in the opinion of the Minister is not contrary to the public interest;[definition of “association” amended by Act 63 of 1980]“badge” means any object or figure, being a symbolic representation, but not displayed on a shield, used for official or municipal purposes or by any association, institution or person as a mark of recognition or as a distinguishing token;“bureau” means the bureau of heraldry established by section 3;“coat of arms” means any object or figure, being a symbolic representation displayed in colours on a shield in conformity with the principles and rules of heraldry, with or without a crown, helmet, crest, mantling, supporters, motto or other accessories;“committee” means the heraldry committee referred to in section 6(3);“council” means the heraldry council established by section 6(1);“deletion” means the deletion in the register of particulars of a registered heraldic representation, name, special name or uniform;[definition of “deletion” inserted by Act 63 of 1980]“differencing” means the incorporation of a brisure in a heraldic representation in conformity with the principles and rules of heraldry in order to distinguish between the different owners of such representation;[definition of “differencing” amended by Act 63 of 1980]“heraldic representation” means a coat of arms, badge or other emblem;“institution” means any institution, including any university, university college, teachers’ college, training college, normal college, technical college, school or research institute in the Republic, the territory or a foreign country, for the promotion of education, arts, science or any other lawful human activity, and any union or society of the present or past members, students or scholars of any such institution;“Minister” means the Minister of National Education;“municipal” means of or belonging to an institution or body referred to in section 84(1)(f)(i) or (ii) of the Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1961 (Act No. 32 of 1961), and any similar institution or body in the territory;[The Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 32 of 1961 was South Africa's constitution from 1961 to 1984. Although this Act had implications for South-West Africa, it does not appear to have been directly applicable as a law of South West Africa. It was repealed on 3 September 1984 by the Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1983, although some provisions relating to provincial government were retained under the new name of the Provincial Government Act 32 of 1961. Local authorities in Namibia are governed by the Local Authorities Act 23 of 1992.]“name” means any name referred to in section 7(2);“official” means of or belonging to the Government of the Republic or any provincial administration;“other emblem” means any flag, pennant, gonfalon, decoration, medal, seal, insignia of rank, any office or order or other or kindred symbolic representation, but does not include a coat of arms or badge;“owner”, in relation to any heraldic representation, name, special name or uniform, means the authority, association, institution or person in whose name such representation, name, special name or uniform has been registered;[definition of “owner” inserted by Act 63 of 1980]“prescribed” means prescribed by regulation;“province” includes the territory;“provincial administration” means the administration of a province;“register” means the register kept in terms of section 5;“registration” means an entry in the register; and “registered” has a corresponding meaning;“regulation” means any regulation made under section 25;“special name” means any special name or designation referred to in section 7;[definition of “special name” amended by Act 63 of 1980]“state herald” means the officer appointed in terms of section 4;“territory” means the territory of South-West Africa, including that part of the said territory known as the Eastern Caprivi Zipfel and referred to in section 38(5) of the South-West Africa Constitution Act, 1968 (Act No. 39 of 1968);“this Act” includes any regulation;“uniform” means any article or articles of wearing apparel, being distinctive in design and colour, but without a heraldic representation as part thereof, intended to be used by members of an association or institution which is not of a political or religious character.[section 1 substituted by Act 54 of 1969]2. ***
[section 2 deleted by Act 54 of 1969]3. Bureau of heraldry
4. State herald
There shall be appointed, subject to the laws governing the public service, a state herald as head of the bureau.5. Register of heraldic representations, names, special names and uniforms
A register shall be kept in the bureau in which the bureau shall on application and in the manner determined by the state herald after consultation with the council enter the particulars which he determines in respect of -[introductory phrase amended by Act 63 of 1980; the amendment markings are incomplete]6. Heraldry council and heraldry committee
7. Applications and appeals
7A. Notice of applications
The bureau shall give notice in the Gazette of any application made to it in terms of section 7, and of the period within which and the manner in which any objection in terms of section 7B shall be lodged with the bureau.[section 7A inserted by Act 54 of 1969]7B. Objections
Any official or municipal authority, association, institution or person wishing to object to the registration of any heraldic representation, name, special name or uniform or to the amendment or deletion of a registered heraldic representation, name, special name or uniform on the grounds that such registration, amendment or deletion would encroach upon rights to which it or he is legally entitled, shall lodge such objection with the bureau in such manner and within such period as the bureau may by notice in the Gazette determine.[section 7B inserted by Act 54 of 1969 and amended by Act 63 of 1980]8. Consideration of applications by state herald
8A. Consideration of applications by committee
8B. Request for further information or particulars
The bureau may, with regard to an application, require from the applicant such further information or particulars as the state herald, the committee or the council, as the case may be, desires.[section 8B inserted by Act 54 of 1969]9. Appeal against decision of state heraldor committee
10. Registration, amendment or deletion of heraldic representation, name, special name or uniform
If an application for the registration, amendment or deletion of a heraldic representation, name, special name or uniform is approved by the state herald, committee or council -11. ***
[section 11 deleted by Act 54 of 1969]12. ***
[section 12 deleted by Act 54 of 1969]13. ***
[section 13 deleted by Act 54 of 1969]14. ***
[section 14 substituted by Act 54 of 1969 and deleted by Act 63 of 1980]15. Seal of office
The bureau shall have a seal of office the heraldic particulars whereof shall be entered in the register.16. Register open for inspection
17. Information from register
The bureau may at the request of -18. Correction of clerical errors and rectification of register
Upon a request in writing accompanied by the prescribed fees or without such a request and subject to the provisions of section nineteen -19. Exercise of discretionary powers
Whenever any discretionary power is by this Act given to the state herald, the council or the committee, such power shall not be exercised adversely to an applicant or an objector or other person who according to the register appears to be an interested party, without affording such applicant, objector or interested party a reasonable opportunity of being heard.[section 19 substituted by Act 54 of 1969]20. Savings
21. Damages for misuse of registered heraldic representations, names, special names or uniforms
Any person who -22. Penalties for misuse of registered representations,names, special names or uniforms
Any person who -22A. Offence in respect of coat of arms of the Republic
Any person who commits any act which displays contempt for the coat of arms of the Republic or which is likely to hold it up to ridicule, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand rand or in default of payment to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.[section 22A inserted by Act 22 of 1982]23. Penalty for false entries
Any person who, knowing the same to be false -23A. Penalty for making certain allegations in connection with family coats of arms
24. Annual report
25. Regulations
26. ***
[section 26 deleted by Act 54 of 1969]27. Application to the territory
This Act and any amendment thereof shall also apply to the territory.28. Short title and date of commencement
This Act shall be called the Heraldry Act, 1962, and shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the State President by proclamation in the Gazette.[Act 54 of 1969 contains the following additional substantive provisions:][22. “Pending applications The provisions of the principal Act, as existing prior to the amendment thereof by this Act, shall continue to apply in respect of any application, referred to in section 8 (1) (a) or (b) of the principal Act as existing prior to the amendment thereof by this Act, and made at the commencement of this Act but which has not yet at such commencement been finally disposed of, and the provisions of the principal Act, as amended by this Act, shall apply in respect of any other application so made but not yet finally disposed of at such commencement.][***][24. Repeal of Act 23 of 1935 (1) Subject to the provisions of section 4 (2) and subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the Protection of Names, Uniforms and Badges Act, 1935, is hereby repealed. (2) Any name, special name, uniform or badge which was immediately prior to the commencement of this Act entered in the register mentioned in section 1 of the Protection of Names, Uniforms and Badges Act, 1935, and in respect of which there existed immediately prior to such commencement a valid certificate of registration under the provisions of that Act, shall be deemed to be a name, special name, uniform or badge, respectively, registered under this Act: Provided that in the case of any such uniform with any such badge as an integral portion thereof, such uniform, without such badge, shall be deemed to be a uniform, and such badge a badge, registered under this Act. (3) Any application made under section 2 of the Protection of Names, Uniforms and Badges Act, 1935, for the registration of a name, special name, uniform or badge, which has, at the commencement of this Act, not yet been finally disposed of, shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of that Act, as if this Act had not been passed, and thereupon any such name, special name, uniform or badge which the Minister referred to in section 4 of that Act causes under that section to be registered, shall, subject to the proviso to subsection (2) of this section, be deemed to be a name, special name, uniform or badge, respectively, registered under this Act.”]History of this document
01 April 1984 this version
12 March 1982
Amended by
Heraldry Amendment Act, 1982
23 May 1980
Amended by
Heraldry Amendment Act, 1980
07 November 1969
Amended by
Heraldry Amendment Act, 1969
01 June 1963
Commenced by
Commencement of the Heraldry Act, 1962
16 March 1962
07 March 1962
Assented to