“What’s Wrong With This Tip?”: Eastern Cape Woman’s R34 Tip for Restaurant Bill Goes Viral
- A Port Elizabeth Facebook user shared a restaurant bill showing a R765.50 meal with a R34.50 tip
- The post sparked a heated debate with over 1,600 reactions as South Africans were divided on whether the tip was too little, too much, or just right
- Many questioned whether waiters deserve tips for simply carrying food from the kitchen
Source: UGC
A Port Elizabeth woman has got Mzansi talking after sharing a photo of her restaurant bill that left many people with strong opinions about tipping culture. The woman enjoyed a meal that cost R765.50 and decided to tip her waiter R34.50, bringing her total to exactly R800.
Facebook user @mbali.qhakaza, who studies at the University of South Africa and lives in the Eastern Cape, shared the bill on 12 September 2025 with a simple question:
"What's wrong with this tip, na guys?"
The post quickly gained traction, receiving over 1,600 reactions, hundreds of shares, and thousands of comments from South Africans with very different views on tipping.
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The debate became so intense that the poster had to ask another question:
"Do you tip based on service or bill?"
This simple question opened up a can of worms as people shared their personal tipping experiences and philosophies about whether waiters deserve extra money for their service.
Source: Facebook
South Africans react to restaurant bill
@Katlego_Mlangeni shared:
"We once bought food for R1500 and then gave the cashier R50 cash, and he rejected the money, saying if it's not 10% then it means he didn't do a proper job ...👀😱"
@Otshepeng_Morebodi stated:
"Even if you don't tip, it's fine."
@She_Lah_Conquer joked:
"R34.50 tip 😫 Yoh I'll dance for that customer. Shem 💃🏼"
@Lindo_Ncane argued:
"Tip 15% for someone who doesn't even prepare your food, they just take it, already prepared, from point A to point B?"
@Kholeka_Siqiti defended:
"Nothing wrong. I always round it off nam."
@Anele_Lee_Ovayo_Notununu added:
"I don't do anything less than R50."
@Palisa_Selepe concluded:
"Nothing is wrong, you tip with what you have."
The psychology behind tipping culture
According to experts at the BBC, tipping originated in 16th-century England when overnight guests would leave money for their hosts' servants. The practice has since spread worldwide, but customs differ greatly between countries. In the United States, restaurant tips range from 15-25%, while Brazil expects 10% and in Sweden, only 5-10%.
Research shows that people tip for different reasons, including wanting better service next time, rewarding good service, or simply following social norms. Some countries, like Japan, consider tipping almost taboo, which shows how cultural differences shape our attitudes towards gratuities. The practice often depends on personality traits, with more extroverted societies generally tipping more service providers and larger amounts.
View the Facebook post below:
3 Other stories about tipping
- Briefly News recently reported on a waitress who used her hard-earned tips to surprise her grandparents with groceries, but the emotional reason behind her generous act wasn't immediately clear.
- A TikTok user shared someone's shocking R225,040 restaurant bill, where the customer only left a R30 tip, but the full list of expensive items ordered revealed why people were so outraged.
- A Johannesburg woman left a creative note instead of money as her tip at Woolworths, but her exact words and the reason behind her unusual choice divided social media users.
Source: Briefly News
