Don’t accept stained banknotes, specialist investigator warns
People found in possession of dye-stained banknotes run the risk of being investigated, arrested and prosecuted.
Members of the public have been warned against accepting dye-stained banknotes.
This comes after thousands of ATMs were forced open and robbed during unrest and looting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal last week.
“The public is cautioned against accepting such notes as legal tender because the onward use and value of these banknotes will not be honoured,” specialist serious economic and violent crime investigator Mike Bolhuis said.
He explained that similar warnings were also being issued by other institutions in the banking industry due to a reported increase in the circulation of such banknotes following the widespread unrest.
“Affected banks are currently assessing the impact of the excessive destruction of ATMs,” he said.
At least 1 400 ATMs were affected.
“It is important to remember that it will hamper customers’ ability to withdraw their salaries and make payments,” Bolhuis said.
The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (Sabric) said banknotes became stained when someone tried to break open the special containers which ATMs use to hold cash.
“Once activated, the cash is stained with a green dye, thus defacing the notes, rendering them unusable as currency. These stained notes are recognized as having no monetary value once they are stained.”
The centre also said that people in possession of such banknotes made themselves suspects for criminal investigations.
“You run the risk of being investigated, arrested and prosecuted for the destruction of these ATMs,” said Sabric CEO Nischall Mewalall.
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