Global Courant
Since 1994, South Africa has undergone three notable changes to its banknotes, including changes to the visual features, size and language of the banknotes.
Over a period of nearly 30 years, South African banknotes represent the value of five denominations: R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200.
Interestingly, according to the records of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), South Africa had released more than seven banknote issues in the country, with the first issue when South Africa gained independence and became a republic in 1961.
This first issue replaced the pound and was titled ‘Jan van Riebeeck’; the edge designations issued were the R1, R2, R10 and R20.
Edge designations of R5 and R50 were added in the second (1966 to 1977) and third issues (1978 to 1991), titled ‘Jan van Riebeeck en Protea’.
The image below shows examples of the R2 and R5 banknotes released in the third issue.
Post-Apartheid – The Big Five (1992-2011)
The most drastic change came in 1992 when the fourth track, ‘Big Five’, was released.
The green (R10), brown (R20) and red (R50) color schemes of the old rand notes were retained, with blue and orange being introduced for the R100 and R200 notes. The old R2 and R5 notes were discontinued and replaced by coins.
The post-apartheid banknotes showed the “Big Five” tourist attractions in South Africa on the obverse, while the reverse features images reflecting South Africa’s major industries.
In 2005, the South African Reserve Bank issued updated randnotes (fifth edition), with new security features, minor changes to the banknote designs and the addition of South Africa’s eleven official languages to the banknotes.
These new notes now include and still include Afrikaans, English, isiSwati, isiNdebele, Setswana, Tshivenda, isiXhosa, Sepedi, Xitsonga, Sesotho, and isiZulu.
Nelson Mandela (2012 to present)
In 2012, the SARB announced the release of the sixth track, ‘Nelson Mandela’.
The new notes kept the color schemes of the old rand notes, except for the R200 note, which was too similar to the R20 note, and was changed to a yellow-orange color.
The new banknotes also retained the Big Five nature theme (rhinoceros, elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard), although the animals are now depicted on the back of the banknote.
The major change to these banknotes was the placement of Nelson Mandela’s portrait on the obverse, where historically the Big Five had been placed, and the banknotes were nicknamed “randela” notes.
New security features have also been added to the banknotes, including watermarks, clear perfect print registration (where an image is partially displayed on the front and back of the banknote so that it appears intact when held up to the light), features for the visually impaired, security thread, latent imaging and the use of color shifting ink.
Nelson Mandela centenary
In 2018, the SARB announced and released a one-off seventh issue, ‘Nelson Mandela Centenary’.
These commemorative banknotes are issued to celebrate an important event, icon or issue of a particular country.
This was the SARB’s first and only launch of a series of commemorative banknotes in circulation to mark the centennial of the birth of former President Nelson Mandela on July 18, 2018.
The banknotes highlight President Mandela’s historic journey from the rolling hills of the Eastern Cape to Soweto, Howick, Robben Island and Union Buildings.
2023 update
On May 3, the SARB announced an update to the Nelson Mandela banknotes, making it the eighth release of a new banknote.
The improved banknotes came with improved security features and new designs; however, the broad themes for the notes remain the same as the randela notes issued in 2012.
The notes continue to pay homage to South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, with his portrait on the front of the notes. At the same time, the Big Five animals are now depicted as a family on the back.
The banknotes also emphasize South Africa’s constitutional democracy with the Preamble to the South African Constitution printed in microtext around Madiba’s portrait and the country’s flag on the obverse and reverse of the banknotes.
The note coloring is also a bit deeper – especially the R50 notes, which lean more towards purple than the pink color before.
Font – old (left) and new (right)
Back – old (left) and new (right)
Read: The big problems that South Africa can’t shake off
