PRETORIA Feb 11 (Reuters) – Nelson Mandela’s face
will feature on all South Africa’s bank notes to honour the
former president’s role in fighting apartheid, President Jacob
Zuma said on Saturday.
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.
“It is a befitting tribute to a man who became a symbol of
this country’s struggle for freedom, human rights and
democracy,” Zuma said.
“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.”
News on Friday that Zuma would make an announcement of
“national importance”, along with Finance Minister Pravin
Gordhan and Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus, spooked the
market and sent the rand tumbling as much as 2.6 percent on the
day. Marcus apologised for the confusion.
The new notes featuring Mandela, who became South Africa’s
first democratically elected president in 1994, will be in
circulation by the end of the year.
The frail 93-year-old has not been seen in public since the
closing ceremony of the Soccer World Cup in Johannesburg in July
2010.
(Reporting by Xola Potelwa; Editing by Ben Harding)
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