August 2007: The President of The Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, has signed the South African Red Cross Society and Legal Protection of Certain Emblems Act, 2007, into South African Law.

The Act has been warmly welcomed by the various parliamentary portfolios and stakeholders at public hearings, as a much-needed tool to provide statutory recognition for the South African Red Cross Society and statutory protection for the emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The coming into existence of the Act will end any misuse of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Emblems by any commercial, medical or other entities in South Africa.

The South African Red Cross Society, The International Federation of the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, and The International Committee of the Red Cross commend the move by the South African Government to recognize the Society as its official auxiliary in humanitarian aid, and support the recourse to the imposition of penalties (up to five years imprisonment) for use of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Emblems other than by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and authorized army personnel of the South African Defence Force.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Tainton, Secretary General,
Tel: 021 418 6640,
Mobile 082 450 3992

Thami Mthembu, National Information and Communications Coordinator,
Tel: 021 4186640,
Mobile: 082 859 3032

The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Unity, Universality and Voluntary Service.