We honestly had no idea that there was a limit to the number of coins you could use to pay for something in South Africa. This fact is blowing our minds!
The South African Reserve Bank recently took to Twitter to confirm that 10c and 20c coins are still legal tender in South Africa. While doing so they shared another fact that completely dumbfounded us.
Growing up, the piggy bank was how to save all your pocket money. Once a number was reached, you could run off with your ziplock bag of coins and go buy that thing you had been saving for. This has been done as an adult too. I once had a change jar for R5.00 coins and saved them for over a year. In the end, it came to a whopping R1K and off I went to Makro to buy a tent. Nobody said a word and the transaction went on easily.
There is a limit to how many coins you can use to pay for something though. According to some Twitter users, this limit is at the discretion of the retailer. A company cannot refuse your payment if it falls within the limits but they can also choose to ignore the limit and accept more coins.
This new information is pretty fascinating. The reason it was brought up now by the South African Reserve Bank is that some retailers and establishments have been refusing to accept payment in 10c and 20c pieces.
They have a few tips for you, should a place refuse your legal tender. The bank says you should stand your ground and ask for the manager if the teller does not wish to assist. If the company still refuses to accept the coins, you can report them directly to the Reserve Bank.
The amounts in coins you may use are listed below in the image.
“Many South Africans wonder if the 10c and 20c pieces are still legal tender. They are and should be accepted as payment for any goods and services. However, there are limits to how many coins may be used per transaction.” – The South African Reserve Bank
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