The South African Reserve Bank has introduced two new SARB R2 coins into circulation, created to honour Charlotte Maxeke’s historic university graduation and the courage of the women who took part in the 1956 Women’s March. The launch event brought together government officials, historians and cultural leaders to reflect on the legacy these coins are meant to preserve.
New SARB R2 Coins Celebrate Two Historic Women’s Milestones
The SARB R2 coins mark two separate but connected moments in South African history. One design honours Charlotte Maxeke, who became the first black South African woman to earn a university degree 125 years ago. The second coin commemorates the women who gathered near what is now the State Theatre to protest the extension of pass laws to women in 1956. Both coins will enter everyday circulation, meaning South Africans will encounter this history in ordinary transactions rather than only in museums or textbooks.
Charlotte Maxeke’s Legacy Behind the New Coins
Speaking at the launch, SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago explained that despite functioning as an everyday coin, this release carries symbolic weight because it depicts a woman whose achievements broke barriers of her time. He described it as an ordinary circulation coin distinguished only by carrying the image of this significant woman, adding that the second coin recognises the women who marched against pass law extensions. Kganyago said he hopes the coins encourage young South African women to pursue their own ambitions and
leadership paths.
Why the R2 Coins Also Honour the 1956 Women’s March
The timing of the SARB R2 coins launch, during Women’s Month, was intentional. Elinor Sisulu, Executive Director of the Puku Children’s Literature Foundation, connected the march to the broader fight for citizenship rights for black South Africans. She stressed that the march’s legacy is tied to respecting the rights of others, and warned that this principle is increasingly under threat globally, particularly for black communities on the continent.
Reactions to the SARB R2 Coins Launch
Thulasizwe Makhanya, Chairperson of the Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Institute, used the occasion to challenge attendees to consider how Maxeke would respond to modern issues such as gender-based violence, femicide and unequal pay. He argued that defining her legacy today means holding current institutions, including government and religious bodies, to the same standard she once pushed against. His remarks framed the SARB R2 coins not just as a tribute to the past, but as a prompt for ongoing accountability.
What the Coins Mean for South Africa Today
By placing these stories on coins that pass through millions of hands, the SARB is embedding this history into daily life rather than confining it to formal commemorations. For a country still grappling with gender inequality and economic exclusion, the SARB R2 coins serve as a small but constant reminder of the women who fought for rights many now take for granted.
Read the original report from SABC News. For more on how South African brands are marking Women’s Month, see Danone Southern Africa Appoints Two Female Directors.
