Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members have fanned out across the country to disrupt operations at Clicks branches in the wake of a racist campaign targeting black women’s hair.
EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu leads a protest against Clicks at Sandton City in Johannesburg on 7 September 2020. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/EWN
JOHANNESBURG – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) members have fanned out across the country to disrupt operations at Clicks branches in the wake of a racist campaign targeting black women’s hair.
The advert referred to the natural hair of black women as “dry, damaged and frizzy” while depicting a white woman’s hair as “normal”.
Clicks has apologised for the campaign, insisting that it would do better in future.
It has also suspended two employees, saying that they were negligent.
EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said that the would not stop protesting.
EFF members continue to demonstrate outside the #Clicks store here at Sandton City though the lights inside the store have been switched off. pic.twitter.com/k4P46wN2d4
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 7, 2020
“They must go to hell, Clicks and their lawyers” – Floyd Shivambu
The EFF are demonstrating outside #Clicks at Sandton City saying racism will not be tolerated and if stores must close for the whole week/month then so be it. pic.twitter.com/aHIBXzS76v
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 7, 2020
“We don’t give any consideration to what the lawyers at Werksmans are doing. They tried to go to court. There is no one who is going to stop us protesting here. Werksmans and Clicks must got to hell with their lawyers, with everything.”
In the Western Cape, three EFF officials have been arrested following the party’s protests against the retailer.
#Clicks EFF protesters at the Clicks store at the Promenade Mall in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town. Video: Supplied. pic.twitter.com/oKEkHuO9NO
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) September 7, 2020
In Mpumalanga, police have confirmed that demonstrators damaged windows at a Clicks branch in Emahlahleni after attempting to petrol bomb the store.
Meanwhile, EFF leader Julius Malema said that they would continue protesting at Clicks outlets that refused to shut their doors in the wake of a racist campaign targeting black women’s hair.
Malema is at the Mall of the North in Polokowane, joined by other red berets to ensure that Clicks stores remain shut.
The EFF leader said that they wanted to teach the franchise a lesson.
“We will not be here if the management fo Clicks at the Mall of the North commit not to open. They will open from Saturday. If they do not commit, we will come back every day and they are inconveniencing the mall and other shops.”