Guest: Jeremy Sampson – Executive Chairman, Brand Finance Africa

What happens when a grocery bag becomes the star of a national scandal?

After businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala told Parliament he used a black Woolworths shopping bag to deliver R300 000 to former police minister Bheki Cele, the internet erupted with memes, punchlines and cultural commentary. And right in the middle of the conversation… the bag itself.

Then, in a twist nobody saw coming, Woolworths rolled out new white, semi-transparent bags less than a week later sparking speculation of crisis management, symbolism, brand protection and even “transparency marketing.”

Was this an accidental PR storm? Smart timing? Damage control? Or part of a longer sustainability journey that just happened to collide with the headlines? Kaya FM