Woolworths SA forced the closure of three Woolworths franchise stores on the North Coast on Thursday last week.

The company told the stores it was suspending deliveries and all other support with immediate effect. However the stores opened again on Friday.
Woolworths SA released the following statement: “Woolworths store in Ballito is currently open. We planned to close the store, as the franchisee did not meet the terms of our franchise agreement. The franchisee appealed against our decision. We will keep the store open pending the outcome of a court hearing on this matter. We regret the inconvenience that this may cause some customers.”
There has been a long history of court actions between Woolworths and Dula Investments, the franchise holder for the stores in Stanger, the Ballito Lifestyle centre and the Ballito Bay mall, as
well as numerous complaints from customers. Woolworths already has a court order in its favour that will end the franchise at the Lifestyle store at the end of this year and has already said it would not extend the five-year Ballito Bay mall franchise beyond December 2015.
An application to have the Stanger store closed in May was overturned on a technicality, but Woolworths is going back to court to have it closed.