Emalahleni Clicks store bombed
It is business as usual for most Clicks outlets in the province, except for the branches in eMalahleni where the EFF'S national and provincial leadership are currently staging a protest.
MBOMBELA – Reports coming from Emalahleni suggest that one Clicks outlet was petrol bombed this morning.
The strike action, organised by the EFF, comes after the store launched an advertisement for a TRESemmé hair product, which allegedly portrayed black natural hair as “dry, damaged and frizzy”, while white natural hair was depicted as “normal”.
Clicks Witbank petrol bombed. pic.twitter.com/XF07POyMET
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 7, 2020
The advert sparked national outrage, with the EFF taking matters into its own hands. The party threatened to shut down all Clicks outlets countrywide.
“We are at eMalahleni as per the national command leadership. Our plan is to have all Clicks outlets closed so they can learn that there is no place for racist remarks in this country. We are doing this because we believe that the only way they can learn is for them to lose revenue – so we are going to inflict some damage on their purses,” said the EFF’s provincial leader, Collen Sedibe. Clicks Group CEO, Vikesh Ramsunder had earlier issued an apology on behalf of the chain.
He also said the retailer would trade as normal amid threats by the EFF to cause disruption. In a message sent to Clicks managers, seen by Mpumalanga News, the managers were given instructions to be on high alert. “All stores must be briefed to be on high alert. AMs to work with each mall, centre, landlord to ensure they have been informed and planning for disruption.
Hot spots security to be increased in Pretoria, Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal. Stores to be closed immediately should protesters enter mall or centre. Doors closed and customers allowed to conclude transaction then leave store when they feel safe. Staff without uniform to be deployed to monitor entrances and outside centres to alert SM. No staff will either accept memorandum or deal with protesters. Should protesters enter store without being detected, store manager to ask them to leave and immediately summon centre security or SAPS (sic),” read part of the message.
