Earlier this year, it was announced that the iconic face of Nelson Mandela would be replacing the animal pictures on South Africa’s bank notes – next week that becomes a reality.

From Tuesday next week, The South African Reserve Bank says new bank notes featuring the face of former iconic president, and world-renowned awesome man, Nelson Mandela, will enter circulation.

Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus said in a statement:

The Reserve Bank is proud to be able to honour South Africa’s struggle icon and first democratically elected president in this way. Our currency is a unique symbol of our nationhood, with many of us handling banknotes every day.

The new notes will feature the face of Mandela on the front, and continue to feature the “Big Five” animals on the back.

According to the South African Press Association, the launch of the new notes has been preceded by a public awareness campaign that “includes television, radio and print advertisements as well as electronic media and social networking.”

Accordingly, there have been road shows and events “throughout the country and abroad in Swaziland, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe.”

The notes will continue to circulate with the existing currency, and both will be legal tender.

[Source: M&G]