After 10 years of intense differences over the provincial KwaZulu-Natal coat of arms, the province moved closer to agreeing on one design on Monday - with all political parties giving their blessing to the new motto "Masisukume Sakhe" (Let Us Rise and Build) at the Premier's Portfolio Committee meeting in Pietemaritzburg.
The design and adoption of a post-apartheid coat of arms and motto has been the subject of much political sparring since 1994.
This resulted in two coats of arms - those of Natal and the former KwaZulu homeland - being used side by side in all provincial documents.
However, on Monday, barring some proposed minor changes, broad agreement was obtained from all political parties on a new coat of arms.
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It features the traditional crossed assegai and knobkierie placed behind the Zulu shield, a dovetail border with a lion and wildebeest standing on a white star, Zulu hut, strelitzia flower and a zigzag partition.
IFP MP Jubulani Maphalala told the committee meeting that it was important that the significance of all features of the coat of arms should be explained in the Zulu language so that the majority of the people in the province would understand what it stood for.
The committee was supplied with the explanation of the heraldic components.
The zigzag partition represents the Drakensberg mountains, while the strelitzia has long been associated with the province as a floral emblem representing the beauty of the province.
The dovetail border, on which the lion and wildebeest are standing, indicates the interlinking and interdependence of the inhabitants of the province.
The white star represents the star signalling the birth of Christ - Natal was so named for its 'discovery' on Christmas Day.
The lion plays an important role in African culture and the Zulu kings are referred to as Ingonyama (lion).
Together, the lion and wildebeest represent the coming together of KwaZulu and Natal and unity among the people of the province.
The crossed assegai and knob-kierie are symbols of authority and are behind the shield.
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This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on August 03, 2004
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