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| Nelson Mandela banknotes issued in South Africa | Nelson Mandela banknotes issued in South Africa |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The first banknotes featuring the face of Nelson Mandela have gone into circulation in South Africa. | The first banknotes featuring the face of Nelson Mandela have gone into circulation in South Africa. |
| They are the first South African notes to bear the image of a black person - they replace notes with wild animals and rural and industrial scenes. | They are the first South African notes to bear the image of a black person - they replace notes with wild animals and rural and industrial scenes. |
| President Jacob Zuma says the banknotes were a "humble gesture" to express South Africa's "deep gratitude". | President Jacob Zuma says the banknotes were a "humble gesture" to express South Africa's "deep gratitude". |
| Mr Mandela, 94, is one of the world's best loved figures after spending 27 years in prison for fighting apartheid. | Mr Mandela, 94, is one of the world's best loved figures after spending 27 years in prison for fighting apartheid. |
| Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus was the first to use the new banknotes when she spent 160 rand, about $18 (£12) on some nuts, beetroot, a watermelon and a cucumber at her local shop in the capital, Pretoria. | |
| She said that Mr Mandela was delighted with the design. | She said that Mr Mandela was delighted with the design. |
| She also noted that South Africa tries to update its currency every seven years for security reasons. The new design includes watermarks and a metal strip, while raised printing was added to assist the visually impaired. | |
| Mr Mandela's face is on one side of all the new banknotes, while the "Big Five" animals - lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant - remain on the reverse. | Mr Mandela's face is on one side of all the new banknotes, while the "Big Five" animals - lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant - remain on the reverse. |
| He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his campaign against white minority rule and was elected president the following year before stepping down after a single term. | He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his campaign against white minority rule and was elected president the following year before stepping down after a single term. |
| Known affectionately by his clan name "Madiba", he has now retired from public life. | Known affectionately by his clan name "Madiba", he has now retired from public life. |