The bank said the Pan South African Language Board was the “statutory authority on [language] matters” and had approved the spelling on the 100 rand banknote.

The text on the new note reads Bangikulu, dropping the “n” on the old currency that read Banginkulu.

Some speakers of the language have been disagreeing with the change, saying it is incorrect and there had been no consultation with them.

But the reserve bank’s governor is quoted by local media as saying that the new note did not have an error.

Lesetja Kganyago said the new spelling was "correcting an error that existed before".