South Africa to issue bank notes with Nelson Mandela's image

 South Africa will issue a new series of bank notes bearing the image of the nation's iconic freedom fighter and first black president Nelson Mandela.

South African Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus said that the new notes will be introduced by the end of 2012 and would gradually replace the current series of bills that bears the images of Africa's "big five" prized game animals.

According to The Wall Street Journal, President Jacob Zuma said the banknotes were a "tribute" to Mandela who became 'a symbol of country's struggle for freedom, human rights and democracy.'

South Africa issues notes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Rand, and each will now bear the same image, of Mandela smiling and gazing into the distance.

February 11marked the anniversary of Mandela's release from prison in 1990, at the outset of a process of negotiation with the white-controlled government that culminated in South Africa's first free elections and Mandela's election in 1994.