IN PICTURES: Public violence case opened after EFF storm H&M in Sandton
SANDTON – EFF members are storming H&M stores across Johannesburg.
The Economic Freedom Front (EFF) party members have stormed H&M stores across Johannesburg apparently protesting against a recent advertising campaign by the company.
Video footage of the protests have surfaced on social media depicting the large groups destroying the store’s property at shopping centres in Menlyn and Midrand as well as Sandton.
UPDATE: H&M have made a public announcement via their Twitter account. It states that they are aware of the incidents that took place on 13 January and as a result, some stores have been temporarily closed.
Sandton branch operated as normal today (14 January).
— H&M (@hm) January 13, 2018
ALSO READ: IN PICTURES: Police on scene at Mall of Africa as EFF storm H&M stores around Joburg
By 1pm, the EFF had left Sandton City. Sandton police spokesperson Captain Granville Meyer said, “The EFF supporters have caused damage inside the [H&M] store. The extent of the damage is not yet known since the store has closed and store personnel have left. No damages were caused outside of the store.”
Meyer said the public order policing and Metro police were escorting the EFF members out of Sandton City.
“A case docket of public violence was opened,” said Meyer.
Sandton City’s management took to Twitter to confirm that it had engaged with the EFF team leaders.
https://twitter.com/SandtonCity/status/952124378325676032
https://twitter.com/SandtonCity/status/952124438169911296
Sandton Chronicle journalist, Sarah Koning, was on the scene and spoke to EFF’s Solly Mkhize who said, “We are here to say to H&M as South Africans, we can never allow ever, to regress our democracy to Apartheid days. It cannot be after 350 years, we still have to be subjected to such verbal insults as Africans.”
Watch the full video below.
Stores near the shop in Sandton closed their doors.
AVOID H&M SANDTON CITY : EFF PROTESTING. STORES BEING TRASHED. pic.twitter.com/dzsQAsKaNr
— REZA (@crimeairnetwork) January 13, 2018
H&M Menlyn….Monkey has been unleashed @tumisole @tsholocbdsa pic.twitter.com/x51eKfIzLm
— African Child!!!! (@MmapulaM_) January 13, 2018
Well It’s going down in Sandton City 🔥🔥, H&M just got shut down by the EFF. Now every single shop is closed 🔥
— HRH Dlamini-Armstrong 🇿🇦🇸🇿 (@BenjaminFreedom) January 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/tcee_t/status/952115464192319488
Outrage over a hoodie with words saying “Coolest monkey in the jungle” has gone viral with contempt over the last week.
H&M apologised about the incident on 9 January.
— H&M (@hm) January 9, 2018
ALSO READ:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/194361/breaking-news-eff-cause-havoc-hm-stores-across-joburg-sandton-shopping-centre-affected/
