S. Africa to launch banknotes in Mandela’s remembrance

JOHANNESBURG, Feb.13 — The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) said
on Sunday it will launch a set of commemorative banknotes in honor of what
would have been Nelson Mandela’s centenary.

The late South African President Nelson Mandela was born in July 18, 1918.
In a statement, the central bank said it will release 10, 20, 50, 100 and
200 rand denominations as part of Mandela’s centenary celebrations.
“Nelson Mandela represented the best version of ourselves as South
Africans,” SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago said. “We unveiled the current
Mandela series of banknotes in 2012 to honor him. While preserving the
value of money is our main mandate, our purpose is to be a bastion of
institutional strength, contributing to a stable and prosperous economy
that serves the well-being of all South Africans, and guided in part by
Madiba’s values,” he said.

The South African Mint, a subsidiary of the SARB, will also issue a new 5
rand coin celebrating Mandela’s centenary. The new banknotes and coins will
be released on July 18, 2018. The central bank said the new and old
currencies will continue circulating together.Mandela was a revered world
icon for his reconciliatory stance and his fight for the county’s democracy
and social justice. – XINHUA