According to a recent episode of Carte Blanche, the Mandela Coin, which was recently sold for R2 500 000, is worth R5.
People who are collecting and investing in these coins, might not agree with these findings, convinced that the Mandela coins are worth thousands, or even millions of rands but, according to Carte Blanche, various investors have never seen their returns.
Potchefstroom Herald spoke to two Potchefstroomers with a collection of Mandela Coins. Franco Joubert is one of these collectors and decided to use his collection of Mandela coins to create art. He has been collecting Nelson Mandela R5 coins for seven years, knowing that they will someday be worth a lot. Over the years, he managed to collect a total of 170 of these coins while working at a pay point for several years.
Franco is convinced that these coins are worth thousands since Nelson Mandela is one of the most popular heroes in the world. Some of the dates on his coins are very rare and nearly nowhere to be found.
“Mr. Mandela was someone to look up to,” says Joubert, “he was able to forgive and forget after 27 years in jail”.
He decided not to sell the remainder of his coins, but rather use it to create a classic modern artwork of Nelson Mandela’s face. He then wants to sell it in the USA, saying that everyone is allowed to dream.
Joubert and a friend are also designing Nelson Mandela T-shirts that they are selling to commemorate this hero.
Another Mandela Coin ‘dealer’ named Pieter, collected his Mandela coins while working as a car guard in Potchefstroom. He is now selling his coins for R400 – R500 each. He sold six coins at once. According to Pieter, he sold them to a buyer who drove from Johannesburg to Potchefstroom to get their hands on the coins.
If Carte Blanche claims that these coins are worth nothing, then why are people buying them? Carte Blanche did case studies with coin buyers who didn’t see the return on their investments and claim they have been scammed by the SA Coin Corporation.
We decided to speak to chairman and CEO of SA Coin Corporation, Mark Andersen, to get his insights on whether or not the Mandela R5 Coin is only a myth. According to him, Carte Blanche gave him an interview that lasted one hour and twenty minutes, yet they only gave him 30 seconds in terms of a reply.
“The Mandela R5 coins are the fastest appreciating rare coins in the world and yes, they are most certainly worth something,” he says.
Andersen, who has been dealing with coins for 28 years, has been selling Mandela R5 coins for 11 years now. There are 1 360 advertised Mandela Coins on Bid or Buy at the moment, priced up to R75 000.
“How can it be a scam if there are hundreds of sellers on Bid or Buy?” asks Andersen, worried that the Carte Blanche episode was an attack from their competitors, to make SA Coin Corporation seem corrupt. “We’ve been hammered by Carte Blanche and our competitors. We have a record of some of SA’s rarest coins and we know, therefore, what we are doing,” he says.
So why did the case studies on the episode of Carte Blanche not see any return on their investment? According to Andersen, it is because of the current global recession. He explains that investments everywhere are struggling to return their profit because of the bad economic climate.
“This is the worst recession I have seen in my 25 years of dealing with coins,” he says, “I cannot control the market and cannot be blamed by people who gets ugly when they are in urgent need of money.”
He says this is a bad time for any investment to see its returns, but when the economic climate changes, these coins will, without a doubt, see the return on investment they deserve.
“There is no doubt that these Mandela Coins are worth thousands,” he says.
Andersen believes Carte Blanche and his competitors attacked him by claiming that he is scamming the public by selling these coins. But, he says, he has nothing to hide, and the people who know him also know that he is a good person who would never scam anyone.
Overview of Public Universities in South Africa
Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.
University of Pretoria
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
- Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.
University of Cape Town
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
- Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.
Stellenbosch University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
- Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.
University of the Witwatersrand
- Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
- Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.
University of Johannesburg
- Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
- Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.
University of the Free State
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.
University of Venda
- Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
- Application Period: Usually from May to September.
University of Fort Hare
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
- Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.
University of the Western Cape
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
- Application Period: Generally from May to September.
North-West University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
- Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.
Rhodes University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
- Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.
Nelson Mandela University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
- Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.
University of Limpopo
- Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
- Application Period: From April to September.
University of Zululand
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
- Application Period: Usually between April and November.
Central University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
- Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.
Vaal University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
- Application Period: Typically from May to September.
Walter Sisulu University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
- Application Period: From April to September.
This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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