The South African Reserve Bank is standing by its decision to change the spelling of Xitsonga text on banknotes, amid complaints by speakers of the language that it is wrong.
The bank said the Pan South African Language Board was the “statutory authority on [language] matters” and had approved the spelling on the 100 rand banknote.
The text on the new note reads Bangikulu, dropping the “n” on the old currency that read Banginkulu.
Some speakers of the language have been disagreeing with the change, saying “it is incorrect and there had been no consultation with them.”
But the reserve bank’s governor, Lesetja Kganyago was quoted by local media as saying “the new note did not have an error.”
Kganyago said the new spelling was “correcting an error that existed before”.
BBC/ Mercy Chukwudiebere
