Woolworths' shopping bags: More than just groceries amid money transport claims

Woolworths (Woolies) reusable shopping bags have become a staple of many South African homes. They are used for many things besides just grocery shopping.

However, many South Africans were surprised to also find out that the bag, made up of 45% recycled material, is also used to transport cash.

Woolworths took to X to share the "right" way to use the reusable shopping bag. "Secures the groceries. A makeshift overnight bag. The national carrier. The multi-talented.

"Ladies and gentlemen... The *right* way to use the W bag," tweeted the retailer.

The Woolies bag is a trending topic, thanks to the startling revelation made before the Ad Hoc Committee investigating systemic corruption within South Africa’s law enforcement agencies, by Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, who is an alleged cartel member.

Matlala claimed that former police minister Bheki Cele demanded a bribe of R1-million - a sum Matlala alleges he partly paid in Woolworths bags.

Delving further into the payments, Matlala said he could not recall precisely how much he had in his possession when he made the R300,000 payment.

He explained, “I sent my sister to withdraw the money on my behalf because I had resigned as director from my company. I went to the bank to pick it up from my sister and walked back with the money in a Woolworths bag to my penthouse.”

The Woolies bag was introduced in 2018 when the company scrapped single-use plastic bags as part of its vision for all packaging to be reusable or recyclable by 2022.

The group introduced the reusable shopping bags retailing for around R6.50 each as part of turning the tide against environmental degradation. The bag now retails for R8.49.