New banknotes to honor Nelson Mandela
Two weeks ago, South Africa’s current president Jacob Zuma presented a new set of banknotes to the public. The new prints show the country’s first black president Nelson Mandela. With the launch of the new banknotes, Mandela’s achievements for the South African nation are to be honored.
In the historic year 1990, Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in prison. Under the Apartheid rule in South Africa, Mandela became a leading figure in the ANC’s struggle against the white ruled oppression.
During the launch of the new banknotes, Jacob 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.
South Africa’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan for his part stated:
What the imprint on the banknote does, it institutionalizes this memory for many many generations to come. It sounds like one event today but what we actually have before us is the beginning of decades long and generations long process, reminding people of where we come from.