The EFF has called off their protest at Clicks stores around the country.
Folding under the pressure of a four-day shutdown, the health and beauty retail giant admitted the hair advertisement was racist at a meeting with party leaders yesterday.
Clicks also agreed to give bursaries to five black students to pursue a qualification in the pharmaceutical industry next year.
In addition, the retailer will be donating a minimum of 50 000 sanitary pads, sanitisers and masks to rural and informal settlements.
The meeting came in the wake of violent protests around the country, during which 425 Clicks stores were shut down, some of them vandalised.
Ten people, including an EFF MP, have been arrested for destruction of property.
On Wednesday, all Clicks’ 880 winkels were closed for the day.
The furore follows a hair advert by TRESemmé on Clicks’ website, which called black women’s hair dry, damaged, frizzy and dull, while labelling white women’s hair as normal, fine and flat.
A number of major retailers have since decided to stop stocking TRESemmé products, including Woolworths, The Shoprite/ Checkers group (the largest supermarket chain store in Africa), Dis-Chem, Makro and Pick ’n Pay.
Pick ’n Pay said: “Given the recent concern about the language used by TRESemmé to advertise their product line, we have decided to remove the products from our shelves while we engage with the supplier.”
In a joint statement with Clicks last night EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo, said both Clicks and TRESemmé have agreed that the advert was offensive and racist.
“The EFF made it clear that the days of apologies and sorry are over and that there must be consequences for racism,” he said.
“Clicks will withdraw all TRESemmé SA products from all its stores and replace them with locally produced products.
“The EFF will work with Law Enforcement agencies to ensure that agent provocateurs involved in the vandalism of Clicks stores are brought to book.”
He said the matter has now been put to rest and also notes that further discussions around transformation within Clicks relating to procurement, empowerment, employment equity, localisation and diversification of supplier base will be held.
“The EFF calls off all protest action at all Clicks stores with immediate effect.
“All Clicks stores can now resume normal operations,” added Pambo.
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