On Saturday, South Africa President, Jacob Zuma announce a new South Africa Mandela banknote. The Nelson Mandela's face will feature on all South Africa's bank notes to honour the former president's role in fighting apartheid. The announcement coincides with the 22nd anniversary of Mandela's release from prison after serving 27 years in jail for his opposition to white-only rule. On 11 February 1990, President Nelson Mandela walked out of prison a free man, after has been jailed 27 years in Robben Island Prison.
The currency will have the same denominations (10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand), sizes and colours but the front of all notes will carry a specially designed engraving of former President Nelson Mandela. The reverse side of each denomination will have an image of one of the big five animals; lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo. The new Mandela banknote, who became South Africa's first democratically elected president in 1994, will be in circulation by the end of the year.
South African Reserve Bank also announce that the current notes remain legal tender and there will be a programme of replacement with the new notes over time. Further details will be communicated to the public during the course of the year.
