Vending operators have started adjusting the electronic validation mechanisms of their machines to accept the new R5 coin, the Vending Association of South Africa (Vasa) said on Tuesday.
Initial trials have been successful and Vasa, along with equipment suppliers, is working to extend this to cover all equipment, the organisation said in a statement.
“The first pay-on-foot machines were upgraded this weekend, when Zeag [the first company worldwide to develop pay-on-foot systems] upgraded the section of the parking machines at Cresta shopping centre in Johannesburg that they are responsible for.
“The biggest users of R5 coins are the pay-on-foot machines and as such these will receive top priority when adjustments are made,” the association said.
Individual vendors and service companies are responsible for implementing the changes to ensure machines accept the new coins, which will in turn help combat the problems related to counterfeit coins.
“The Vending Association of South Africa welcomes the new coin. In the past our members were hard hit by the problem of counterfeit R5 coins. We hope that the new coin will help to address that,” said Chris Drewnicki, managing director of Electronic Vending Services and Vesa’s liaison with the South African Reserve Bank.
“The software to change vending machines will be distributed throughout the country. Some machines will be easier to upgrade than others. Older machines may need replacement coin acceptors and new technology.
“However, the older technology would have needed to be replaced soon, irrespective of the introduction of the new coin, as that technology was nearing the end of its lifetime,” Drewnicki said.
The process will take about a year to complete.
Once adjusted to accept the new coin, machines will still — for now — accept the old coin. — Sapa