The Department of Arts and Culture has approved the registration of an official gay flag.

Mava Mothiba, from the department's bureau of heraldry, said yesterday that there had been no objections to the flag which is an adaptation of the international gay flag and the South African national flag.

"It has been registered under the Heraldry Act and is protected under the act," he said.

Gay Flag of South Africa, a non-profit organisation, submitted the flag for approval as a symbol for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

Founder and flag designer Eugene Brockman said he was delighted.

"Today is, personally, the most important day of my life," Brockman said.

"The flag has become a symbol of both the celebration of queer South African identity as well as the obstacles and hate crimes LGBTI South Africans face that are unique to this country."