Xitsonga spelling on new banknotes correct, says PanSALB
The South African Reserve Bank says there are no mistakes on the country's latest batch of bank notes.
Social media has been abuzz over the change of the Xitsonga spelling on the upgraded banknotes and coins from 'Banginkulu' to 'Bangikulu'.
"The upgraded banknotes that are in question right now, they are released now May and the work that happened or the approval that was received from PanSALB was received in 2022 after they had changed the language," says the bank's Head of Currency Pearl Kgalegi.
"The old banknote that comes from 2012 and in 2012 the language with an 'N' was correct. So there is no incorrect banknote. Language has evolved."
READ: SEE: SARB introduces new SA banknotes, coins
The central bank says it consulted with the Pan South African Language Board before the notes were released.
"The spelling on the old banknote reflects the previous spelling and autography role that was accepted by the National Language Body for Xitsonga at the time," says the board's spokesperson, Ntombi Huluhulu.
"So the revision of the spelling and autography rules was undertaken after research was conducted by the NLB and so the changes that you see on the new printed banknotes are a reflection of the revised spelling and autography rules. The new spelling of Bangikulu is accurate and correct."
