Izikhothane tear up R100 notes

[Steve Hayes]

Izikhothane tear up R100 notes
15-Nov-2012

WHILE many South Africans go to bed on empty stomachs, members of a growing
youth culture, izikhothane, were tearing and throwing away R100 notes on
Saturday night.

The group, which usually destroys expensive clothes to seal their standing in
a trend, on Saturday splashed the money on the streets of Braamfontein,
Johannesburg.

There was pandemonium as people ran after the cars trying to catch the flying
torn notes.

Des Motloutsi, one of the people who managed to catch a few pieces which he
managed to put together with tape, said izikhothane sported expensive clothes
and jewellery.

The incident took place around 11.30pm.

"I could not believe what was happening. Notes were flying all over and people
were pushing each other while catching the money. Izikhothane were also
spilling expensive liquor," he said.

When Sowetan arrived yesterday, Motloutsi and his friend Sifiso Mabhece were
trying to assemble the small pieces together with a sellotape. They had
already pieced together R500, while other pieces did not match.

"This morning, we took the money to the Reserve Bank but they told us that the
serial numbers did not correspond. Some of the pieces that we picked up don't
match."

Kenny Kunene, aka the Sushi King, said tearing up money "was very stupid". He
said being izikhothane was all about fashion and looking good, while being
irresponsible at the same time.

"I am sure these are recent recruits because izikhothane don't do that. They
need guidance and I have been going to schools speaking to them about this
practice. I plan to continue next year."

Reserve Bank spokesman Hlengani Mathebula said: "It is a criminal offence to
tear up money because you are contravening Section 34(F) of the South African
Reserve Bank Act 90 of 1989. Whether you are doing it at your own private
space or in public, it's just not accepted."

Police spokeswoman Captain Pinky Tsinyane said: "If you are caught tearing up
money you will face a charge of malicious damage to state property."

- bamba...@sowetan.co.za

THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN PRINT ON 12 NOVEMBER 2012

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2012/11/15/izikhothane-tear-up-r100-notes


--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk