Themba Mabaso
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Themba Mabaso, State Herald of South Africa, is Director of that country's Bureau of Heraldry.[1][2]
Together with the Heraldry Council, his office forms part of the State Archives Service (formerly called the National Archives), which is currently under the authority of the Minister of Arts & Culture.[3]
Mabaso's responsibilities including registering coats of arms, insignia badges, flags and seals. He also advises the South African government, corporations and individuals on matters of heraldry, uniforms and vexillology.[4]
For example, when consulted on how the flag of South Africa should be displayed, Mabaso explained:
The Flag is alike a written document. When you read a document you start from top to bottom, from left to right. According to our Flag, Red is at the top and blue at the bottom. So when the flag is displayed vertically, red should be the first one to be read, hence it is displayed on the left hand side.[5]
Mabaso participates in important state occasions such as the inauguration of a new president of South Africa and represents South Africa at heraldic events worldwide, such as the XXVIIth International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences in St Andrews, Scotland (pictured above). On this occasion, both Mabaso and his assistant Marcel van Rossum, Deputy Herald of South Africa, wore tabards displaying a design based on the new coat of arms of South Africa adopted in 2000 and based on Khoisan art.
[edit] Experience
Themba Mabaso was serving as a chief magistrate in 1999.[6]
He also has previous professional experience in art galleries and fine art preservation. In 1999 and 2000, Mabaso was associated with Johannesburg Art Gallery in Johannesburg and was a chairman of the Conseil International des Musées (International Council of Museums).[7]
In 2004, Mabaso published a children's book entitled Three Golden Wooden Platters. It was illustrated by Gavin Thomson and Juta Gariep.[8]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Heraldic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Frederick Brownell |
State Herald of South Africa 2002–present |
Incumbent |
