As the South African flag waves especially proudly across our country as of late, a special restoration project has upgraded our flag in one of its most important homes:
Johannesburg, South Africa (03 November 2023) — Our South African flag is waving with even more pride as of late thanks to our defended title as champions of the world, so it’s only fitting that one of the flag’s most important homes—the Constitutional Court—has seen its flag artwork beautifully restored.
The restoration saw the large beaded South African flag—which has hung in the main chamber of the Constitutional Court for 18 years—enjoy a makeover with one of the same artists who helped create the masterpiece in 2005—Hlengiwe Dube reuniting with her artwork.
The original team of beadworking artists were the incredibly talented Hlengiwe Dube, Leonie Malherbe, Ntombi Agnes Mbatha, Thobani Mbatha, Ntombifikile Greta Nkosi, Sphindile Nkosi and Zibuyisile Pretty Zulu, who took months to meticulously stitch the iconic flag, bead by bead.
The restoration is symbolic of the commitment to maintaining pride in the places it matters most.
“I’ve enjoyed working on this flag especially because it has such a prominent and symbolic position at the heart of one of our most important democratic institutions,” shared Hlengiwe Dube.
Of the restoration process, she shared that all of the beads were reinforced with new cotton, the flag was cleaned and new stitching was placed to secure the work to its lining in a 6.2m x 2.5m work.
“We feel happy that this amazing example of the South African flag can continue to be seen behind the justices’ bench for many years to come,”Hlengiwe added.
The flag also got a new hanging mechanism to make its endurance that much stronger.
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