 Before 1928 the only flag that had official status in the Union of South Africa was the United Kingdom 's Union Jack as South Africa was part of the British Empire . The South African Red Ensign was used as an unofficial flag . In 1925 , discussion rose about creating a new flag for South Africa as many descendants of Boers found the Union Jack unacceptable after the Boer War . In 1926 the Balfour Declaration granted South Africa Dominon status and a new flag was to be used to represent them . British settlers wanted the Union Jack in the new flag as part of the British Empire while the Afrikaners did not . A compromise was reached whereby the new flag would consist of the Prince 's Flag as this was the first flag raised on South Africa and a badge of the Union Jack in the centre with the flags of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic . The Union Jack was mirrored in the new flag with the hoist on the right so that it did not take precedence over the others . 
