"The 29-year-old said she got the fake money from one of her customers who came to buy dagga from her."

Two women were arrested in Mthatha after they were allegedly caught with counterfeit Mandela bank notes, Eastern Cape police said on Wednesday.

"They were able to buy school uniforms at a nearby store without anyone noticing that their cash was fake," police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Dineo Koena said.

"They were caught at a cosmetics shop after the shop owner noticed that the money felt different."

The women, aged 29 and 39, allegedly had R1,600 in counterfeit notes in their possession.

The 39-year-old told the police she had asked her friend to lend her money. The friend suggested they meet in town to do some shopping.

"The 29-year-old said she got the fake money from one of her customers who came to buy dagga from her."

The two were charged with possession of counterfeit money and would appear in the Mthatha Magistrate's Court on Thursday.