The South African Currency

South Africa's currency is the Rand, and each Rand is made up of 100 cents. The rand has the symbol 'R' , or as internationally used, ZAR. It is named after the Witwatersrand ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and within which most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The currency converter below, will guide you to the value of your own currency in terms of South African Rand.

Please note that this converter does not give you the official exchange rate - it should be used as a guide only.

 

 

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New Mandela Bank Notes

The South African Reserve Bank recently announced that new bank notes featuring Nelson Mandela's image are to be issued before the end of this year. These notes will be issued in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Rand, and will replace the the current  "Big 5" animal themed notes. The day chosen for the announcement of the new notes was of huge political significance; i.e. 11 February.  It was on this day in 1990 that Nelson Mandela was released from prison - 22 years ago this year - after spending 27 years behind bars

As President Zuma so aptly put it when the notes were launched, "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, to a life spent in service of the people of this country and in the cause of humanity worldwide."

An extract from the announcement of the new Mandela bank notes

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