Members of a growing youth culture, "izikhothane", tore up and threw away R100 notes in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on Saturday.
The group usually destroys expensive goods and clothing, apparently to demonstrate how much money they have. Izikhothane means "those who lick" in Zulu.
The Sowetan reports their actions caused chaos as people ran after the cars trying to catch the flying, torn notes. Bystanders were taping the torn notes together.
Reserve Bank spokesman Hlengani Mathebula told the newspaper it was a criminal act to tear up money, "Because you are contravening Section 34(F) of the SA Reserve Bank Act 90 of 1989.
"Whether you are doing it at your own private space or in public, it's just not accepted."
People who are caught tearing up money will face charges of malicious damage to state property.
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