The honesty shop: Would you trust Mzansi to pay up?

Updated July 15, 2025, 5:41 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast / Skyye Ndlovu

Would you pay or dash? South Africa’s honesty shop has Mzansi talking!

Honesty shop X — The honesty shop / Dr. Chauke / X

Let’s be honest. In this day and age, trusting your fellow human is a bold move.

Whether it’s trusting your partner to stay loyal, your bestie to keep a secret, or a Police Minister to not dabble in crime (yeah… how’s that going?), faith in humanity’s been on shaky ground.

We see it everywhere. Although one brave soul in Mzansi seems to believe there’s still a sprinkle of honesty left out here.

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A local traveler recently came across what’s known as an Honesty Shop while road-tripping to Sutherland in the Northern Cape.

Now, if you’re wondering what on earth that is, it’s exactly what it sounds like.

A tiny, unmanned shop on the side of the road, stocked with road trip essentials like NikNaks, sweets, bottled water, and good ol’ Kontyblokkies.

No shopkeeper. No security guard. No CCTV (as far as we know). You simply take what you want and leave the money in the box.

Yes, you read that right. In South Africa. In 2025.

Before you picture a Checkers with aisles of bread and Coca-Cola - no, fam.

It’s a humble, roadside pitstop for people driving through the middle of nowhere with no garage in sight.

Check out the video below:

This is an honesty Shop in Northern cape you buy and pay with no one there to process the sale. 👌🔥😂 Joburg people think its Ai pic.twitter.com/reDIzfdy3x
— Dr Chauke 📝 (@_BlackZA) July 12, 2025

Naturally, Mzansi’s comment section did not disappoint.

One person wrote: “Joburg people will even steal those stones 😂😂”

Another user admitted: “Me I’ll take everything and leave R5.”

Then there’s the horror movie theorist: “I’ve watched enough scary movies to know there’s someone watching. Next thing I’m being followed for taking extra chips.”

Honestly? Fair point. Nothing says plot twist like a creepy uncle appearing from behind a bush for your NikNaks.

A few skeptics weren’t convinced it’s even real, claiming:

“This is AI, definitely AI.”

Uhm… okay. Not everything is AI, Susan.

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Anyways, in a world where honesty feels like a retro concept, it’s kind of heartwarming to know some people still believe in the good old handshake principle.

Even if it’s over a bag of chips and a Kontyblokkie.

Would you pay… or would you pull a Joburg special?