SOUTH AFRICA

(ZAR) Currency News >>

CURRENCY:

Rand - ZAR, Symbol R

DENOMINATIONS:

NOTE: R200, 100, 50, 20 and 10.

COIN: R5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

US DOLLAR ACCEPTED?

N/A

CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS AND ATMS:

Most major credit cards are accepted, the most preferred of which are MasterCard and Visa. ATM machines are widespread. Note petrol stations only take payments in cash.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE:

There are currency exchange services at banks and bureaux de change, as well as some hotels. Make sure you bring your passport.

TRAVELLER'S CHEQUES:

These are best in US dollars or Sterling and are widely accepted.

BANKING HOURS:

Mon-Fri 0900-1530. Sat 0830-1100.

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS:

Visitors may only bring in and take out a maximum of R5000 in cash.

COUNTRY OVERVIEW:

The Republic of South Africa is located on the southernmost tip of Africa. It has been a colony of Britain and settlers from German, Dutch, Flemish and French all arrived before 1900. Due to this and the inhabitants that were already there, South Africa now has a very diverse culture both ethnically and in many other areas. The capital is Cape Town and there are eleven official language, the most commonly used of which is English.

POPULATION:

Nearly 50 million.

ECONOMY:

South Africa is ranked as a middle-income country. Many of its sectors are well developed, including the legal, financial and energy sectors. A key note is that this high development is focused within four areas - Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria or Johannesburg. Outside of those areas, poverty is a huge problem and development is low. This means there is a large income gap and that the majority of South Africans are affected by poverty.