THE excitement around the launch of new bank notes has been short-lived.
The new R100 banknote and coins were unveiled by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation last week.
But it has been discovered there was a spelling error in the Xitsonga translationofReserve Bank’.
As a result the Reserve Bank has been criticised for not consulting with historians or cultural expert within the Xitsonga nation, calling it “a total disregard for our mother tongue”.
The new coins and banknotes come with enhanced security features and new designs, even if they don’t stray too far from what is currently in circulation.
The new banknotes have kept the “Big Five” animals and Nelson Mandela’s face. Existing coins and banknotes will continue to be recognised
However, the SARB opted to emphasise family, and the notes now depict adult animals and their offspring.
There are also changes to the colour of the notes.
The upgrade to the notes and coins, the first since 2018, includes a range of new design features which will make them easier for visually impaired people to use, as well as new flora and fauna such as the southern right whale on the coins.
And while former president Nelson Mandela’s portrait is retained on all the banknotes, the inclusion of “big five” families on the reverse side of the notes celebrates age diversity, Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago said.
Some of the community members also questioned why spend time and resources on printing new bank notes, when that money should have been channelled to greater use, considering the dire situation SA faces.
