 Following its official retirement as the flag of South Africa , the Oranje , Blanje , Blou was adopted by some white South Africans as being a symbol of Afrikaner heritage and history . Many South Africans still view it as a symbol of apartheid , and therefore strongly discouraged its use . Despite the negative associations , it was never banned by the Government of South Africa post @-@ 1994 and the right to display it in South Africa is protected under Chapter Two of the Constitution of South Africa as an expression of free speech . In the 21st century , usage of the " Oranje , Blanje , Blou " experienced a revival of display as a symbol by white supremacists worldwide . A particular awareness of this followed the shooting at a Charleston , South Carolina black church in 2015 , as the suspect Dylann Roof had previously been pictured wearing a jacket with the " Oranje , Blanje , Blou " and the flag of Rhodesia on it . This association with apartheid and racism often led to calls for the flags that were used in a historical context , to be removed from display . An example of this is Cooma , Australia , where it is flown to commemorate South African workers in the Snowy Mountains Scheme alongside the Canadian Red Ensign and other flags from 1956 when the scheme was created . 
