Pietermaritzburg businesses left scrambling as acute shortage of low-denomination coins hits the city

An acute shortage of low-denomination coins, particularly 10c, 20c, and 50c pieces, has left retail outlets across Pietermaritzburg scrambling to provide change.

Pietermaritzburg retailers are facing an acute shortage of low-denomination coins, particularly 10c, 20c, and 50c pieces, which has left them scrambling to provide change.

In response, some businesses have put up notices asking customers to use bank cards, while others have encouraged people to bring coins from home.

While these coins may have been overlooked in the past, their disappearance has highlighted their importance. Many residents are now digging out their stashes of loose change to help.

Angie Snyman, a Pietermaritzburg resident who works in retail, said the shortage has made serving customers difficult.

“Many transactions don’t round neatly to a note or single coin. Personally, we collect loose coins in a jar and exchange them for cash when possible,” she said.

Despite the concerns, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and its subsidiary, the South African Mint Company, maintain there is no issue.

So, where are the city’s coins hiding? Residents shared their thoughts with Weekend Witness.

When news of the shortage broke, Pelham resident Nompilo Magaba remembered a dusty container filled with her copper coin collection, which she had saved over a year.

“There was a year when I decided to collect all my loose change, sometimes adding paper money. I would take out the silver coins and notes but completely forgot about the rest,” she said.

Her collection, mostly 10c, 20c, and 50c coins, with a single 5c mixed in, totals around R65. She believes many coins are sitting idle in people’s homes.

Witness journalist Akheel Sewsunker, who had just one 10c coin in his possession, shared his thoughts on the missing change.

“I think they’re in long-forgotten piggy banks and collections for children. People forget they have coins in odd places like gaps in couches and pockets,” he said.

Hope Nonyane said people are saving coins at home. “I cashed out R23 000 of R5 coins last year,” she said.

Bimla Maharaj said no one appreciates coins anymore, while The Game Shack joked that the coins were in waterfalls and rivers from people making wishes and praying for good things in their lives.