Charges to be Laid Against EFF for Calls to Attack Clicks Stores
After 400 Clicks stores across the country were apparently shut by Economic Freedom Fighters supporters today, and seven damaged and/or petrol-bombed, charges are to be laid against the EFF, several of whose leaders exhorted members to “Attack” the pharmaceutical chain today over a controversial advertisement. Clicks apologised publicly on Friday for the TRESemme hair product […]
After 400 Clicks stores across the country were apparently shut by Economic Freedom Fighters supporters today, and seven damaged and/or petrol-bombed, charges are to be laid against the EFF, several of whose leaders exhorted members to “Attack” the pharmaceutical chain today over a controversial advertisement.
Clicks apologised publicly on Friday for the TRESemme hair product ad – which caused outrage and hurt in South Africa by comparing the hair of women, one black negatively, one white positively. Clicks said: “We would like to issue an unequivocal apology. We have removed the images which go against everything we believe in. We do not condone racism and we are strong advocates of natural hair. We are deeply sorry and will put in place stricter measures on our website.”
Clicks Group CEO Vikesh Ramsunder told Cape Talk that the employees involved in posting the images have been suspended. He added: “The digital team is made up of two black employees, two white employees, and a coloured manager. How they didn’t find this insensitive is beyond me… It shows that I have a lot of work to do in terms of sensitivity training.”
EFF leaders Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi took to Twitter to post tweets calling on supporters to “attack” Clicks stores.
@Clicks_SA see you tomorrow. Fellow fighters and ground forces; ATTACK!!!
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) September 6, 2020
Andrew Whitfield, the DA Shadow Minister of Police, said the DA was laying charges against Malema and the EFF for incitement to commit a crime.
“We will lay charges of incitement to violence and destruction of property against the EFF and more especially its leadership as made public who would welcome rioters at certain malls.”
He said the country had seen how the EFF had taken the law into its own hands, with supporters acting as vigilantes.
https://twitter.com/AdSupermarket/status/1302902939414138880
The DA said it recognized the upset and anger over the Clicks ad, but the EFF’s violent response was unacceptable and the police had a duty to act against Malema and others who made explicit statements inciting EFF members to commit criminal acts, he said.
According to South African law, “Any person who invites, instigates, commands or procures another to commit any offence shall be guilty of an offence.”
In a statement by the EFF today, it called on members to ensure that all Clicks stores stayed closed this week.
“Our economy will never grow in a state of chaos and lawlessness,” said former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba. “We cannot lift South Africans out of poverty like this. Nearly every South African agrees – the #Clicks advert is racially insensitive & hurtful. But, we can’t resort to violence & anarchy.”
“Julius Malema and other EFF leaders’ public incitement of violence should have placed the SAPS on standby to prevent what we have seen today. Yet, it seems that not a single person has been arrested whose crimes had been recorded on video today,” said Marnus Kamfer, Legal and Risk Manager at AfriForum.