 In 1994 the State Herald of South Africa , Fred Brownell , was approached to design a new national flag for South Africa to replace the " Oranje , Blanje , Blou " in time for the first elections after apartheid . He designed the new flag of South Africa with a combination of the " Oranje , Blanje , Blou " and the colours of the ANC flag . The new flag design was approved personally by both de Klerk and Mandela before being unanimously approved by the Transitional Executive Council on 15 March 1994 . De Klerk made the public proclamation of the replacement of the old flag on 20 April , seven days before the 1994 South African general election on 27 April 1994 . 
