PRETORIA, South Africa, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- South Africa's central bank said it would honor the country's world famous former President Nelson Mandela by putting his image on the country's currency.
Mandela has become a global symbol for freedom, having been elected as the first black president of the country in 1994 after serving 27 years in prison for his stand against apartheid, the name for white, minority rule in the country.
"We've come a long way. What the bank note does is institutionalize this memory for many generations to come," said Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that an image of Mandela "smiling and looking into the distance" will be put on all the denominations of South Africa's rand, the 10 rand note, as well as the 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand notes. Ten rand is equal to about $1.30.
The new bills will be in circulation by the end of the year. They replace notes with images of South African wildlife.
"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," said current President Jacob Zuma on Saturday, the anniversary of Mandela's release from prison in 1990.
The British Broadcasting Corp. said Mandela has retired from public life. He is now 93. He was elected president in 1994.
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