Minister for Small Business Development slams Clicks’ ‘meaningless’ apology, calls for retailer to do more business with local SMMEs

The Minister for Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni rejects the apology by the management of the retail store Clicks as meaningless.

Clicks misses the point that the offense is not only about the images that are insensitive but the fact that it represents the views of TRESemme that are racists and reflects the continued undermining of the beauty of African women and the violence they suffer when they are deemed not meeting certain superficial standards.

Therefore to pull down the advert and issue a public apology cannot cut it. Clicks must remove the TRESemme product from its shelves as an expression of their disassociation with suppliers who promote racist and insensitive marketing.

In addition, if Clicks management is serious about being a proudly South African corporate citizen and want to make amends for its “error”, it must be reflected by steps to place more hair products made by South African SMMEs for African hair on its shelves.

Diversity and inclusivity training for staff is just but a negligible drop in the ocean in the corrective action, and cannot be enough. The Department of Small Business Development remains available to assist Clicks to list more African hair products made by South African SMMEs for its shelves.

The time for South Africa to accept lip service apologies on racism and derogatory acts is over, but apologies must be backed by action to build an non-racial and equal society. 

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNMENT ON THE CLICKS DEBACLE 

Government has noted the public outrage following the Clicks advertisement where black hair is portrayed as “dry and damaged”.

Whilst we are equally disturbed by the crude racist display by the advertisement in question, the acts of lawlessness of vandalizing and burning down Clicks stores that have been reported today are concerning and go against the spirit of peace and respect for human rights that has shaped this country since the dawn of democracy.

Engaging in lawless behavior is not a responsible way to resolve conflict. As this matter is being ventilated, government calls on all South Africans to resist the temptation to take the law into their own hands, remain calm and follow the correct and legal channels to address their concerns. 

Members of the public who witness any form of intimidation or act of violence should contact the nearest police station or call the toll free number: 10 111 to report such incidents.

Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu said, “We remain committed to the values of democracy. Any form of discrimination or violation of human rights for whatever reason cannot be tolerated as it undermines the progress made in building a united democratic country.”

The fight against discrimination remains the priority of government. It is for this reason that in March 2019 Cabinet approved the National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, a tool that empowers government to act against such injustices.

“Even in the face of resistance by a small minority, we continue with efforts to build a united South Africa that we can all be proud of. As we launch Heritage Month today, we are reminded of the many cultures, traditions and languages that make us who we are. In the spirit of social cohesion, let us all cherish and respect one another regardless of color, background, gender and religion,”

LATEST UPDATE FROM CLICKS

Protest action by the EFF has been reported at 425 Clicks stores in South Africa. At last count 51 stores have closed in the Western Cape, 92 in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, and 302 in Gauteng and elsewhere.  

Clicks strongly condemns violence of any kind, intimidation of staff and its customers and the vandalism of its stores. All incidents of criminal behaviour are being reported to the authorities. Clicks is working with SAPS to ensure the safety of staff, customers and members of the public.   

Clicks is unable to estimate the total damage to stores given the ongoing protest action.   

Clicks provides a much-needed healthcare service to South Africans and will continue to trade. Clicks has taken full accountability and apologised unreservedly for the advertisement published on its website and is committed to effecting real change across the business. Clicks continues to monitor the situation.

-ENDS-

Malema vows to shut down Clicks for a week: 'They value money more than humanity'

"We are saying they must close the whole week because they value money more than humanity. They wanted to make money out of [sic] our expense," Malema said.

He said the rationale behind the demand for Clicks stores nationwide to remain close for the whole week was, “to make them to lose money".

"Since you wanted to make money at our expense, we are going to make you lose money because you worship money more than humanity," he said.

WATCH | 'It’s about the dignity of a black person' - EFF’s Veronica Mente on Clicks protest

The EFF's protest at Clicks is not about hair, but about the dignity of Black people, the party’s chairperson Veronica Mente said on the sidelines of a Clicks shutdown at Cape Town's Goodwood Mall.

"It's not about the hair. It's about the dignity of a black person. It's not respected," she said of the advertisement for TRESemme hair products.

"It's very easy for them to use a black person's dignity, drag it on the floor and use it as something that is not proper," said Mente.

LATEST UPDATE FROM CLICKS

Health and beauty retailer Clicks will be taking all the necessary precautionary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our customers and our employees.

Protest action by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is currently happening at 37 of its stores across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape. Seven stores were damaged, including Saveways in Witbank and Cycad in Polokwane.

Clicks strongly condemns violence of any kind or intimidation of staff and its customers. Clicks will take legal action against perpetrators and those seeking to incite violence or harm our people and our stores.

Clicks provides a much-needed healthcare service to South Africans. Stores will remain open for trading and contingency plans have been put in place to ensure the safety of both customers and staff.

Clicks has taken full accountability and apologised unreservedly for the advertisement published on its website and has taken immediate action to address all concerns.

Clicks will continue to monitor the situation.

EFF's Shivambu: Clicks must lose profits after racist ad 

EFF leader Floyd Shivambu says Clicks should lose profits as a result of a racist advert published on the retail chain's website last week.

Speaking at a protest outside the Sandton City branch in Johannesburg on Monday, Shivambu also said the party would not stop protesting outside stores until the chain disclosed the names of the people involved in commissioning the advert.

"They must disclose the names of all the people involved in commissioning that racist advert and they must disclose the name of the company that did that advert," Shivambu said.

"They must show evidence that they've taken action against everyone that is involved in doing so, and unless they do that, Clicks will not open in all parts of South Africa."

Shivambu added that Clicks should not be allowed to continue trading as if nothing happened.

"They must lose profits because of their racism," he said.

Clicks workers 'unfortunate collateral' - EFF's Floyd Shivambu vows to protest the whole week

EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu says Clicks workers are "unfortunate collateral" in the party's protest action against the retail chain.

Speaking outside a Clicks store in Sandton City, Johannesburg, Shivambu said Clicks should suffer the consequences after the publication of an advert that depicted black people's hair as "dry" and "damaged" but white people's hair as "normal".

There were about 30 EFF members at the protest in Sandton. The protests have impacted many Clicks workers' ability to go to work. Some stores closed their doors.

But Shivambu said the workers were "unfortunate collateral".

"The employees of Clicks must know that after this action they are going to benefit forever because this management will start respecting black people by force," Shivambu said.

He added that "the employees of Clicks must be rest assured that after our action, they are going to benefit from this".

TV crew chased away by EFF at Cape Town Clicks protest

An eNCA reporter and cameraman were chased away from covering a protest at Clicks in Goodwood Mall by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Monday morning.

The EFF descended on the mall in Cape Town as part of a nationwide call to shut down all Clicks stores following outrage over an offensive hair advert that portrayed black hair as "dry and damaged".

EFF chairperson Veronica Mente was about to address reporters waiting for comment on their demand that shops countrywide close.

As she approached the wall of media who had been reporting on the EFF members shielding the Clicks store doors, she demanded that eNCA leave first.

She said eNCA had refused to cover their elective conference last year, so the broadcaster had to leave before she would speak.