KwaZulu, 1977

KwaZulu was the intended homeland for the Zulu people, covering more than one-third of Natal in eleven scattered areas. It received limited self-government on 1 February 1977, with its capital initially at Nongoma. In 1980 it was moved to Ulundi, the last historic capital of the Zulu empire, the scene of the final battle with the British in 1879. Its flag had a vermilion-red panel at the hoist with a traditional Zulu cowhide shield, and a white field with three narrow horizontal yellow-green-black stripes. The flag’s colours are those of the Inkatha Freedom Party of Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, which exercised political control in KwaZulu. The party had its origins in the African National Congress (ANC); its colours are black-green-yellow but were represented in reverse order on the KwaZulu flag.