'That'll be 50 Madibas'
FORMER president Nelson Mandela was yesterday honoured on the 22nd anniversary of his release from prison by the Reserve Bank - with the launch of new bank notes bearing his image.
PROUD BEARER: President Jacob Zuma displays one of the new bank notes bearing the image of former president Nelson Mandela. Picture by Bafana MahlanguIt is a befitting tribute to a man who became a symbol of this country's struggle for freedom, human rights and democracy
The new currency note series was unveiled in Pretoria by Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus, finance minister Pravin Gordhan and President Jacob Zuma.
Mandela joins world leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson whose faces have appeared on US coins and bank notes since 1909 and 1938 respectively.
Zuma said Mandela was an outstanding leader and compatriot.
"On behalf of government and the country we are proud to announce that the new South African bank notes will bear the face of Dr Nelson Mandela.
"We are happy to make this public on the anniversary of his release," Zuma said.
The tribute to Mandela was made on the same day that the Mandela family buried his sister, Nokuthamba Mandela, in the Eastern Cape.
"It is a befitting tribute to a man who became a symbol of this country's struggle for freedom, human rights and democracy.
"With this humble gesture we are expressing our deep gratitude as the South African people for a life spent in the service of the people of this country and in the cause of humanity worldwide," said Zuma.
The last time the current note series was upgraded was in 2005.
"While the security features remain effective, we decided it was time to produce a new note series," said Marcus.
The new bank notes will come out in R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200 denominations.
"The currency will have the same denominations, sizes and colours (as the old ones) but the front of all the notes will carry a specially designed engraving of Mandela," Marcus said.
She said Mandela had seen his image on the new notes and that he was happy with them.
