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The PFSA’s emblem depict a unique South African feature of early postal history

“Post Office Stones” were discovered on 7 March 1896 while excavations in Strand Street, Cape Town were in progress. The stones tell the story of early Cape history in which letters addressed to, or to be conveyed by, passing ships were place under the rocks. The earliest inscription dated 1618

The logo symbolizes the stone with letter underneath lying on the ground

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The Philatelic Federation of South Africa (PFSA) is a voluntary association organised as a federation of clubs & societies for stamp collectors and philatelists of all ages and all types. The PFSA encourages collectors to form or belong to clubs/societies but also provides for those who prefer not to belong to an organised body; such individuals may benefit from the work and activities of the PFSA as direct subscribers

The Constitution regulates the affairs of the PFSA

The bylaws determine the functioning of the PFSA

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Signatories to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists of South Africa

Introduced 1932

Distinguished Philatelists, who have made a significant contribution to philately in Southern Africa, are invited by the congress of the Philatelic Federation of Southern Africa to sign the Roll of Honour. The Signatories are entitled to use the letters RDPSA after their names.

Signatories

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Honorary Life President

Peter van der Molen RDPSA, FRPSL

Honorary Life Vice Presidents

Howard Green RDPSA

Emil Minnaar RDPSA

President

Gawie Hugo

Deputy President

Vacant

Chairperson: Management Committee

Neil Cronje RDPSA

Treasurer

Derek Roth

Chief Operating Officer

André du Plessis RDPSA

Regional Vice-Presidents

Region 1: Gauteng and North West Province

Gary Pienaar

Region 2: Eastern Gauteng

Colin Bousfield

Region 3: Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Limpopo

André du Plessis RDPSA

Region 4: Free State and Northern Cape

Leon Jacobson

Region 5: Kwa-Zulu Natal

John Handman

Region 6: Western Cape

Chuck Muller

Region 7: Eastern Cape

Vernon Mitchell

Region 8: Outside Areas

Richard Stroud RDPSA

The Philatelic Foundation of Southern Africa

There is a quiet force sustaining organised philately in South Africa – a backbone of support for the activities and services provided by the Philatelic Federation of South Africa (PFSA), and its operational committees

This backbone is the Philatelic Foundation of Southern Africa, a promotional body that was founded in 1975

The PFSA is involved with the day to day wellbeing of the hobby of stamp collecting and is largely funded by the Foundation. Through this capital backing, collectors enjoy a variety of benefits as members of stamp societies

How did this come about?

At the PFSA’s initiative a three-man delegation (Manfred Weinstein RDPSA, Prof Casper Schutte and Joh Groenewald RDPSA) met with the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs, Marais Viljoen, in Pretoria in November 1973. The delegation suggested that the South African Post Office (SAPO), which profits from philatelic sales, should plough back with a grant to a public-private partnership fund administered by itself and organised philately

That historic meeting had other outcomes as well. It led to a grand prix award, the State President’s Trophy, for National Philatelic Exhibitions as well as the Postmaster-General’s Shield for the best South African exhibit

At the next years’ exhibition, SAPHIL 1974 in Pretoria, the minister confirmed SAPO’s support and cooperation. The PFSA Executive Committee proposed the forming of a separate non-profit body in January 1975

This was approved at the Paarl 1975 Philatelic Congress, with SAPO and the PFSA having equal representation on the new body, The Philatelic Foundation of Southern Africa

A grant from SAPO allowed the Philatelic Foundation (Filateliestigting) to get started. Later, funds were augmented by making souvenir sheetlets depicting unaccepted Union of South Africa stamp designs available at national exhibitions.  This was followed by miniature sheets having postal validity but sold at a premium for the Foundation

In 1994 the SAPO ceased its support. Foundation adopted a policy of using only part of its annual interest earnings towards the funding of current philatelic activities and re-investing the rest to grow the capital base

The fund has grown to the extent that the Foundation could became a major funding partner, jointly with SAPO, of the 2010 Johannesburg International Philatelic Exhibition

In recent years SAPO’s involvement has diminished, and the Foundation is managed and run by representatives of the Federation and the stamp collecting fraternity, some of the board members being elected by signatories of the Roll of Honour of Distinguished South African Philatelists

On Foundation’s role in South Africa’s Philately the 2018 President Dr Jim Findlay RPDSA, at that year’s National Exhibition, emphasized that the main object of the Foundation is  “To promote in every way whatsoever, including the collection of funds, their administration and application to the furthering of the cultural activity of Philately in South Africa” and affirmed that the Foundation has become the essential backbone for organised stamp collecting in South Africa, which will continue to serve its objectives with prudence and responsibility

Office Bearers

Emil Bührmann RDPSA     Gerhard Kamffer RDPSA      Richard Johnson RDPSA

Treasurer (co-opted): Howard Green RDPSA

PFSA Awards

Roll of Distinguished Philatelists of South Africa (RDPSA)

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PFSA shall keep a Roll of Honour of Distinguished Philatelists of Southern Africa

To qualify for election to the Roll a person shall have:

• Achieved distinction through philatelic research or philatelic writings and publications
• Service to the PFSA
• Have made an outstanding contribution to philately and/or philatelic societies

The procedure for election by Congress to become a signatory to the Roll shall be as determined in the by-laws

Awards are presented at the annual National Stampshow

Signatories

Skinner Cup

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Congress may award the Skinner Cup (Southern Challenge Cup) to a person who shall be considered to have done outstanding meritorious work for philately in South Africa, being in respect of work on a wider than regional level

The Cup shall be awarded to any person only once

The procedure for deciding on the award of the Cup shall be as determined in the By-laws

Recipients

Manfred Weinstein Memorial Medallion

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The Medallion shall be given for philatelic achievement involving study and primary research and willingness to disseminate knowledge

A person may be awarded the Medallion once only and the award need not be made annually

Recipients

J H Harvey Pirie Memorial Award

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The Award may be made annually to a philatelist resident anywhere in the world whose contribution to Southern African philately complies with either of the following:

• The publication of an outstanding work on the philately of South Africa within a period of three (3) years of the date of award, or

• Publication in any philatelic journal of the result of outstanding original research on any aspect of Southern African philately within the same period as in (a) above

The Management Committee will determine the format of the award

Recipients

W E Lea Cup

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This floating Trophy may be made annually for:

• Publication of an outstanding philatelic work not otherwise rewarded by Federation, or

• Southern African philately over a period of years not otherwise rewarded by Federation, or
• In the event that the award is not made under (a) or (b) above, the Cup shall be made available to the Jury of the competitive philatelic exhibition held in conjunction with Congress for the collection showing the greatest philatelic knowledge and/or research, if no other award is available in the category

The Cup may be awarded to the same person on more than one occasion, provided that each time it is awarded for a different achievement

PFSA may withhold the Cup under this section if a high enough standard is not attained

Recipients

Federation Plaque

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Awarded in recognition of outstanding services to philately over a long period of time

This award of honor need not be given annually and may not be awarded to a person more than once

More than one award may be made each year

Recipients

Jack Hagger Award

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Approved by the MC in 2006 for the best article on South Africa (area as defined in the SASCC) published in the SA Philatelist during the previous two years

Recipients

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