Spelling error spotted on new South African R100 note

Spelling error spotted on new South African R100 note – AWKWARD

The new R100 banknote that was unveiled by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) last Wednesday reportedly contains a spelling error in the Xitsonga translation of ‘Reserve Bank’. MUST READ | Cheapest groceries in South Africa: Checkers v Woolworths v Pick n Pay – and more As reported by the SAPeople website, the SARB launched the country’s latest coins and banknotes together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation last week. […]

The Language board has clarified the spelling in Xitsonga on the new banknotes are accurate and correct. Photo: SARB

The new R100 banknote that was unveiled by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) last Wednesday reportedly contains a spelling error in the Xitsonga translation of ‘Reserve Bank’.

MUST READ | Cheapest groceries in South Africa: Checkers v Woolworths v Pick n Pay – and more

As reported by the SAPeople website, the SARB launched the country’s latest coins and banknotes together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation last week.

READ: Fish River Resort hit by million-rand looting spree, one arrested

The new coins and banknotes come with enhanced security features and new designs, even if they don’t stray too far from what is currently in circulation.

The new banknotes have kept the “Big Five” animals and Nelson Mandela’s face.

However, the SARB opted to emphasise family, and the notes now depict adult animals and their offspring.

There are also changes to the colour of the notes.

Important to remember, existing coins and banknotes will continue to be recognised.

LOOK | SA’s new-look coins for 2023 revealed – there are some BIG changes

However, embarrassingly, a mistake has been picked up among the Xitsonga-speaking communities.

A quick look at the ‘old’ R100 banknotes currently in circulation denotes the Xitsonga spelling of Reserve Bank as ‘Banginkulu’ – as below.

RIP | South African golfer John Bland dies

However, on the new R100 note, the Xitsonga translation of ‘Reserve Bank’ has changed, with the second ‘N’ dropped. The word now reads Bangikulu.

MUST SEE | More South African city and town name changes coming in 2023

Somewhat confusingly, the Pan South African Language Board, responsible for the translation, says the extra ‘N’ was incorrect on the ‘old’ notes – explaining that the ‘N’ is only used when referring to a person and not an institution.

However, Xitsonga-speaking communities have disagree with the change.

According to the BusinessTech website, these communities said that the explanation for the change is wrong, and removing the ‘N’ changes the meaning of the word.

They have blamed the lack of consultation with language experts as the cause for the misspelling.

ALSO READ | Tom Hanks makes his pick as next James Bond

Have you seen any of the new South African banknotes?

Let us know by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 or clicking on the ‘comment’ tab below this article.

You can also follow @TheSAnews on Twitter and The South African on Facebook.

WATCH | When the fastest woman in the world turns up to run the parents race at her kid’s school