The International Association of Amateur Heralds

Since the late 1980s, South Africa has been divided into local government districts, each containing a number of municipalities. The authorities which administer these districts were originally (1987-96) called "regional services councils". They became "district councils" in 1996, and "district municipalities" in 2001.

Many of them have or had coats of arms. The Bureau of Heraldry devised a standard format for RSC arms, comprising a shield ensigned of a triple-towered metal mural crown and supported by two birds. The distinctive mural crown was discontinued after 2001, and arms designed since then have been ensigned of a variety of crowns (or, in some cases, none at all).

Here's a selection of RSC / DC / DM arms.

From the 1980s


Western Cape RSC (Cape Town) : Per fess nowy Argent and Gules, in base a bunch of grapes slipped Argent leaved Or; a chief nowy of a gable Azure. The supporters are Cape gannets. Registered in 1988, but short-lived as the RSC was dissolved in 1996.


Central Karoo RSC : Argent, a pile trefly inverted Gules between two piles Sable. The birds are secretary birds. Registered in 1990.


Kalahari RSC : Per chevron the peak ensigned with the chemical symbol for iron issuant Azure and Or, in base a bow and arrow cross Azure. The birds are kori bustards. Registered in 1990.

From the 1990s


Stellaland RSC : Per pale Vert and Sable, a five-pointed star Or, in base a starlet Argent. The supporters are black korhaan. Stellaland ("star land") was named after a comet in 1882 and was briefly a republic (1883-85). Registered in 1991.


Overberg RSC : Per chevron coupled enhanced Azure and Vert, surmounting the partition line a chevron coupled, the peaks embattled Argent, partially surmounting the chevron coupled a broad pile inverted Or charged with an anchor erect Sable. The birds are capped wheatears. The compartment is decorated with fynbos. 'Overberg' means "over the mountain". Registered in 1992.

... more to follow ...

West Coast RSC : Per chevron coupled enhanced, Azure and Argent, in base a lobster erect Gules and in the chief the blossom of a succulent Argent seeded, slipped and leaved Or. The supporters are kelp gulls. Registered in 1992, re-registered in 1996 and 2002.


Oosvaal DC (now 'Gert Sibande DM') : Argent, between flanches Gules three lozenges conjoined in fess Sable between, in chief a Barberton daisy Gules seeded Or, and in base a cogwheel Sable. The birds are wattled cranes. Registered in 1996.


Central DC : Or, a thorn-tree proper and in chief three gunstones in fess. The birds are yellow-billed hornbills. Registered in 1997.


Umzinyathi DC : Azure, a bar wavy abaisse Argent, and in chief a buffalo head caboshed Or. The birds are bald ibises. Registered in 1998.


Kei DC (now 'O.R. Tambo DM') : Per saltire, in chief Azure, the flanks Vert and base Or, in chief a sun rising of the last, and in base a tree aloe Vert with three racemes Gules. The supporters are Cape vultures. Registered in 1999.

... final instalment to follow ...

I like the idea of different birds supporting the shields from the South African districts.
As we here in Sweden have local birds, animals and flowers representing each "landskap" would it be very nice to use them as decorative supporters.

Torsten Laneryd wrote:I like the idea of different birds supporting the shields from the South African districts.
As we here in Sweden have local birds, animals and flowers representing each "landskap" would it be very nice to use them as decorative supporters.

Sadly modern Swedish heraldry seems to have done away with supporters. Not even royal Princes rate supporters:

http://amateurheralds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1081

From the 2000s


Capricorn DM : Per fess Vert and Or, two pickaxes in saltire, per fess Argent and Vert, surmounted in chief by a demi-sunflower issuant proper conjoined in base to a demi-cogwheel Sable. The birds are ground hornbills. Registered in 2002. The Tropic of Capricorn runs through the district, hence the name.


Ehlanzeni DM : On an Nguni oxhide shield Sable, in the dexter flank pied at random to base Argent, in chief a demi-bezant with eleven rays issuant to chief Or, therebeneath ten pairs of thongs fesswise in pale counterchanged. The supporters are two turtle doves. Registered in 2002.


Kgalagadi DM (now 'John Taolo Gaetsewe DM') : Per fess Azure and Gules, a cross of chemical symbols for iron fitchy Or surmounted in base by a fountain. The supporters are kori bustards (the same as those of the council's predecessor, the Kalahari RSC). Registered in 2002.


Mopani DM : Per fess nowy to base Argent and Vert, in base two elephant tusks, points outward and to chief, the lower edges in base in saltire proper, in chief on the upper edges of a Mopani twig with two leaves, a Mopani worm proper; in fess point a well-wheel Argent between the lower wheel-spokes voided Or. The supporters are fish-eagles. This particular pattern of crown is called a "rustic mural crown heightened on the crenellations and crenels with wooden palisades". Registered in 2002.


Metsweding DM : Per fess Azure and Or, a fess the lower edge enarched, the upper edge wavy Vert and fimbriated Argent, between in chief a natural fountain issuant Argent, at fess point a diamond Argent between dexter a Basuto hat and sinister a Zulu woman's headdress, and in base a traditional, painted rondavel proper. The birds are eastern red-footed kestrels. Registered in 2004 but now obsolete as the district municipality was dissolved in 2011.


Xhariep DM : Per fess Vert and Or, on a fess Azure the lower edge enarched, a representation of the main arterial route bridge over the Gariep Dam Argent, and in base the head of an Orange River lily (Crinum bulbispermum) with three blossoms and four buds slipped, proper; on a chief enhanced and fitchy to base, couped and conjoined to the field Argent, a wagon-wheel proper. Instead of a crown, the shield is ensigned of a Basotho grass hat. The supporters are two male ostriches. Registered in 2004.

Had missed this Post, thanks for sharing Arthur!

Ditto! The designs are generally quite nice and creative; and the artwork is excellent!