The Northern Cape Afrikaner enclave of Orania has launched a chequebook as part of its own currency system, a spokesperson said on Thursday.
”The Orania business chamber launched the chequebook last night [Wednesday], during which the first ten chequebooks were auctioned off,” Eleanor Lombard said in a statement.
Orania’s own currency is called the Ora.
Lombard said that, with the launch of the chequebook, Orania had taken its self-reliance a step further.
The Ora was launched three years ago as a local currency to be used in Orania.
Lombard said the primary aim of an own local currency was to stimulate the local economy.
”Because the Ora and the Ora chequebook can only be used in Orania as a legal currency, it encourages people to spend their money locally.”
There is no transaction cost on Ora cheques because the Ora is in fact a coupon system used as an exchange system in Orania. — Sapa