South African Republic, 1894

Although at the time of the death of Kind Mswati I, the Swazis had reached agreements with British and South African Republic authorities over a range of issues, including independence, the whites reneged on those agreements. Over Swazi protests, the South African Republic with British concurrence established incomplete colonial rule over Swaziland in 1894. As a result the “vierkleur” (Four colour) flag of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (Transvaal) was flown, a flag based on that of the Netherlands with a green stripe, standing for hope and youthfulness, at the hoist.