EFF members ‘attack’ Clicks stores after hair advert causes outrage

EFF members outside a Clicks store in Sandton City, Johannesburg. While most protesters left in the late afternoon, under instruction from the EFF leadership, a few members were told to remain. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)

By Bheki C. Simelane

7 Sep 2020

Clicks CEO Vikesh Ramsunder said of about 880 Clicks stores, at least 400 were forced to close to protect customers and staff.

More than 400 Clicks stores countrywide experienced protest action on Monday after members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) “attacked”, in some cases causing moderate to extensive damage.

EFF members tell an eNCA cameraman to leave a Clicks store outside Goodwood Mall in Cape Town. (Photo: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach)

The “attacks” followed a directive from EFF party leader Julius Malema. On Sunday, Malema tweeted:

“@Clicks_SA see you tomorrow. Fellow fighters and ground forces; ATTACK.”

This came after Clicks put out an advert which described black women’s hair as “dry and damaged” and “frizzy and dull”, while labelling white women’s hair as fine, flat and normal.

EFF supporters protest at the Mall of Africa in Midrand. (Photo: Gallo Images / Luba Lesolle)

On Monday, Daily Maverick visited several Clicks stores in the Johannesburg area, including at Sandton City, Centurion Mall, Newtown and Kerk Street, in downtown Johannesburg.

Extensive damage was caused at the Lemon Tree Shopping Centre Clicks in Alberton, where items were ripped off shelves and flung on the floor and the glass entrance doors shattered.

A staff member assesses the damages at a Clicks store at the Lemon Tree Shopping Centre in Alberton after it was damaged by protesting EFF members. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)

An employee of the store, who asked not to be named, said:

“One would think they would be provoked upon finding the store open, but their attack on the store was totally unprovoked as we were closed when they pounced. They broke in and went on to trash the store.”

Lemon Tree Shopping Centre manager Fernanda Lavos said the store would be closed for the rest of the week. “Clicks said so themselves, that they will close for the rest of the week because the damage is extensive.”

A policeman takes cellphone images of the damaged Clicks store at the Lemon Tree Shopping Centre in Alberton. (Photo: Shiraaz Mohamed)

Speaking at the Protea Gardens Clicks store in Soweto on Monday morning, Chiawelo EFF branch member Aubrey Chauke said:

“We are here to assist them to keep the store closed as per the directive of the party leadership.”

The staff and store manager were already inside the store when members of the EFF arrived. They left the store at around 9.30am, squeezing past members of the red berets and disappearing into a growing number of onlooking shoppers.

Chauke said they would intensify the protests in the following days if Clicks continued to open its stores. The group left when it became clear that the store was not going to open for the rest of the day.

The EFF has positioned itself as advocates against racism, but some South Africans who took to social media said the party was feigning empathy for poor black people as a ploy to stay relevant.

In Alberton North, the entire Alberton City Shopping Centre, which houses a Clicks store, was closed.

“I’m sure you heard about the EFF thing; they were here, and as a safety measure we closed the entire centre,” said a security guard.

The Clicks stores in Newtown and Klerk Street were closed and undamaged on Monday, while the eMalahleni Clicks was petrol bombed on Monday morning.

There were no incidents of violence at the Clicks in Sandton City, where Daily Maverick counted 11 police officers and at least 13 security personnel members from a private security company.

The Clicks store at Centurion was partially damaged and there was a large crack on the glass entry door. When asked if they had cracked the door, one EFF member said, “We found it like that.”

When the EFF members realised they were talking to journalists from Daily Maverick they immediately asked the journalists to leave.

Speaking on Radio 702 on Monday evening, Clicks CEO Vikesh Ramsunder said of about 880 Clicks stores, roughly 400 were forced to close to protect customers and staff.

The EFF has vowed to continue protesting and keeping stores closed, while Clicks said stores would be open for business on Tuesday.

In a statement on Monday, Clicks said:

“Protest action by the Economic Freedom Fighters is currently happening at 37... 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.” DM

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