The Improved Security Features on the new banknotes

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) launched new banknotes on 17 January with improved security features which will go into circulation from 1 February 2005.

In line with international best practices, the Bank regularly revises the security features and design of banknotes because the Bank is committed to ensuring the public has reliable currency. The SARB has last changed South Africa's banknotes in 1992.

The upgraded banknotes will retain the Big Five animal motif  on the front and the economic sector themes on the back. There will, however, be some design changes. Celebrating South Africa's democracy, the upgraded banknotes will be the first to show the South African Coat of Arms and to use all eleven languages across the denominations.

The improved security features will make it easier for the public to distinguish between good banknotes and counterfeit banknotes and further give the upgraded banknotes a distinct look.

Examples of this are the shimmering gold band, visible on the back of the banknote when it is tilted, as well as the colour-changing ink on the number value on the front bottom right of the R50, R100 and R200 banknotes.

As the Reserve Bank has not "demonetised" any of its currency, the current banknotes will remain legal tender and will circulate simultaneously with the upgraded banknotes. There will be no need for the public to exchange the current banknotes for upgraded banknotes.

However, the upgraded banknotes are likely to become the predominant banknotes in circulation by the end of this year, as upgraded banknotes replace current banknotes that have become worn and dirty.

The SARB encourages all South Africans to familiarise themselves with the new security features and urges the public always to check a combination of features, to make sure that they have genuine money.

To inform and educate the public about the upgraded banknotes, the SARB has embarked on an extensive communication campaign. The campaign includes advertising, training and public relations components.

These advertising programmes will flight in all 11 official languages.

Kagiso Educational Television and Communications is overseeing training for people in the financial industry. Banks and other cash handlers, as well as retailers have already attended training sessions on the improved security features.

Information sessions for urban and rural communities are due to start in February, once the upgraded banknotes have been issued. These sessions will reach some of the remotest parts of the country.

Magna Carta is running the public relations campaign, which includes roving stage trailers and gazebos at taxi ranks. The SARB and Magna Carta have consulted widely with major banks, companies and government, who have committed themselves to supporting and assisting in the dissemination of information on the upgraded banknotes.

The campaign will introduce South Africans to the catchphrase, "Makoya Moola – Rands you can trust", as television and radio commercials encourage the public to check their money and make sure they have "Makoya Moola".

“Makoya" refers to "the real McCoy" and "moola" is slang for money.

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Gestremdes is ons grootste “fans”!

Ek is ‘n ou wat ‘n vreeslike aggressiewe passie het vir my musiek. Wat ek daarmee bedoel is dat ek nie ‘n  kunstenaar is vir al die “jol” of drink by feeste of om meisies op te tel nie, maar ek is ‘n kunstenaar wat skryf, sing, CD's maak ensovoorts vir die kuns van ons kultuur, Afrikaans. Ek vat dit baie ernstig op en doen net die beste wat ek kan om mense te laat ontspan asook om hulle moed en hoop te gee vir die harde wêreld daar buite.

By feeste gaan doen jy ‘n 10:00 oggend-vertoning en almal is gevrek, maar gelukkig is ek daar om die mense gees te gee. Ek doen dit deur goeie musiek en persoonlikheid, nie deur drank nie. Die aand vertonings is wonderlik, want dan is die gehore al so ʼn doppie of vyf weg en almal is vrolik. Gelukkig is almal dan mal oor jou musiek, maar ongelukkig kan hulle nie jou naam die volgende dag onthou nie. Hierdie ding het my gepla en ek het gewonder of is daar nog mense wat kunsvorme op die regte manier waardeer.

Eendag klop daar toe ‘n vrou aan my deur en vertel my sy is van ‘n tehuis vir gestremdes. Ek neem dadelik aan sy soek ‘n donasie, maar laat haar toe maar inkom. Sy vertel my toe iets waaraan ek nooit eers aan gedink het nie. Hierdie gestremde mense het, of eerder kan nie uitgaan na ‘n fees of vertoning nie omdat hulle nie daartoe in staat is nie. Ek word toe uitgenooi na ‘n dans wat die tehuis aanbied vir hulle mensies.

Ek stem toe in om vir hulle musiek te maak vir die aand asook so twee of drie liedjies te sing. Die aand het toe aangebreek en ek was glad nie lus om musiek te maak nie, min wetend dat ek iets kosbaar sou ontdek. Ek het vir hulle musiek gemaak en hulle was die beste gehoor wat ek nog ooit gehad het. Sonder enige bybedoelings of versteekte gedagtes het die klomp mense ons Afrikaanse musiek uit hul siele geniet. Hulle het die aand geniet soos 'n klomp besope Afrikaners, ag nee, nog baie meer, en daar was geen drank betrokke wat hulle so laat voel het nie. Dit was ware, opregte siele wat waardering het vir die musiek wat ons as kunstenaars maak. Daar was gedans en gedans en nogmaals gedans. Geen bekommernisse oor hoe hulle lyk of wat hulle doen nie, net harte vol vreugde wat uitstraal van blydskap vir die kuns en kultuur van ons musiek. Na die dans het hulle klomp geskenkies vir my gebring wat hulle met hul eie hande gemaak het, net om dankie te sê vir my musiek.

As jy weer by ʼn fees is dink aan wat ek jou nou vertel het. Waardeer elke kunstenaar wat hard probeer om jou dag lekker te maak. Kyk ook na die gestremdes. Hulle verdien nie hul eie geld om CD's te koop nie, maar hulle geniet elke noot. Kom ek sê jou iets, by hierdie mense kan ons baie leer oor ons self en hoe om musiek opreg te geniet.

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The Yourcity/St. Andrews Most Romantic Valentine's Couple Competition

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