So… over the weekend President Jacob Zuma announced that Nelson Mandela’s face will feature on all South Africa’s bank notes to honour the former president’s role in fighting apartheid.

The announcement coincides with the 22nd anniversary of Mandela’s release from prison after serving 27 years in jail for his opposition to white-only rule. Whether you like him or despise him, the truth of the matter is that the man will now be in your pocket.

“Madiba will be on our money now, but have we honoured all the other heroes enough?” this is a question posed by The New Age on their social site and I felt compelled to take part and air my-views and my response read like so “I, acknowledge that Madiba is an icon who fought for freedom and deserves the accolades BUT was he alone? What about others, the Sobukwe, Hani, Dube, Biko, Slovo, Sisulu, Tambo, Suzman, Ngoyi, McCamel, Theresa, Mbatha the list is endless.”

Don’t get me wrong Madiba fought against white domination but what about others? No-one from the previous regime to the current and coming generations would claim not to know who he is but how many can say they know who you are talking about when you mention the above mentioned self-less leaders including the likes of Duma Nokwe and Moses Kotane, for instance goggle Levai Mbatha and see if you’ll find anything on him except the clinic named after him.

“It is a befitting tribute to a man who became a symbol of this country’s struggle for freedom, human rights and democracy, 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.” Zuma said.

SA Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus pointed out that the new notes would have enhanced security features that they would be easier to read by the blind or partially sighted people and would be machine readable. The new banknotes would have similar dimensions to the current notes. She pointed out that banknotes were only second in importance to a country's national flag.

News on Friday that Zuma would make an announcement of “national importance”, along with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus, spooked the market and sent the rand tumbling by 2.6% on the day. Marcus apologised for the confusion. The current banknotes that depict the big five wild animals would continue as legal tender until they have been replaced by the new design and the new notes featuring Mandela will be in circulation by the end of the year.

Mandela has not been seen in public since the closing ceremony of the Soccer World Cup in Johannesburg in July 2010.

ADDITIONAL SOURCE: Dispatch and Sowetan