V

VOORTREKKER WAGON — see Ox-wagon

"WAPENSMOUSE" — see "Bucket Shops"

WEAPONS
European and African weapons are used as charges in military and civilian arms. They include: African shields*, the assegai*, battle-axes*, the bow and arrow, daggers, the grenade, the gun (cannon), gun barrels*, the knobkierie*, the powder horn, the quiver, rifles of various types, and swords.

WHEAT
Ears of wheat, or sheaves (garbs), are used as charges in many arms, especially of municipalities in wheat-growing districts. Three garbs appear in the arms of Groote Schuur Hospital (BoH 1987), which was named after the country's first granary.

WILDEBEEST
This animal has been the symbol of (KwaZulu-)Natal since 1870, and appears in the old colonial/ provincial arms (CoA 1907) and in many military, municipal, and other arms associated with the province. It is one of the supporters of the new provincial arms.

WOMEN
Women have the same right to bear arms as men, and a number have matriculated* their fathers' arms, or registered arms in their own names, e.g. Beverley O'Connor (BoH 1992). A few have transmitted their arms to their children. Some follow the tradition of bearing their arms on a lozenge or oval cartouche without a crest, but several have registered full achievements, complete with helmets and crests.

WREATH (Afr: WRONG)
The wreath is usually in the principal tinctures of the shield of arms, though not necessarily the first colour and first metal mentioned in the blazon. Generally, if the shield is divided per fess or per chevron, the tincture of the lower section is used, and if there is a chief, its tincture is used - there are, however, exceptions.

XHOSA SHIELD — see Shield

Nil

ZULU SHIELD — see Shield