By Lerato Ndlovu
The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) said banknotes (Rands) that were stolen from ATMs during the recent civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are useless.
The banknotes and are crossing boarders to neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
In a statement, SABRIC said hundreds of ATMs were vandalised during the violence and looting and a lot of cash was stolen in the mayhem.
“ATMs hold cash in special containers that protect cash with dye-stain technology that is activated when someone tries to break open the containers.
“Once activated the cash is stained with green dye that defaces the notes rendering them useless and unusable currency,” it read.
They stated that the people in possession of the notes make themselves liable to the stealing and unauthorized access to the containers, in this regard there has been attempted circulation of the notes and fears that they might have crossed to the neighbouring countries.
“People who are in possession of these notes make themselves suspects of a criminal investigation that will seek to determine if they were involved in the stealing and unauthorised access of these ATM containers.
“SABRIC has noticed an increase in the attempted circulation of dye-stained notes in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, following the destruction of multiple ATMs, and fear that they might have reached neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe and Mozambique unawarely ” it stated.
SABRIC CEO Nischal Mewalall weighed in and warned businesses and members of the public not to accept the stained notes as legal tender.
“SABRIC warns businesses and members of the public not to accept these dye-stained notes as legal tender as the onward use and value of these notes will not be honoured, you may find yourself out of pocket after releasing goods or performing services because you will not be able to utilise the currency you were paid with.
“In addition, you also run the risk of being investigated, arrested, and prosecuted for the destruction of these ATMs,” he said.
