Know your notes, Reserve Bank urges

"The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is aware of isolated complaints regarding the thread on new banknotes of lower denominations. This is as a result of over circulation of these banknotes," said Hlengani Mathebula, Head Group Strategy and Communications of the bank.

This after weekend reports emerged that the new Mandela notes security thread on the notes was believed to be easy to counterfeit.

Governor Gill Marcus became the first person on 6 November 2012 to use the country's new bank notes bearing the face of former President Nelson Mandela.

In February 2012, President Jacob Zuma announced that the former President would become the first person to appear on the country's banknotes since the dawn of democracy.

"On behalf of Government and the people of South Africa, it is my honour and pleasure to announce that the new South African bank notes will bear the image of President Mandela, the President of a free, democratic South Africa," Zuma said at the time.

The reserve bank urged the public to familiarise itself with the security features of the new notes. It also called on the public to examine the notes to ensure that they are genuine before accepting them.

"South African banknotes are produced to the highest international security standards," said Mathebula.

The notes have denominations of R10; R20; R50; R100 and R200, the same as the previous notes.