Watch: EFF protests against ‘racist advert’ at Ballito Clicks stores

Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party held a peaceful protest outside Clicks pharmacies at The Ballito Junction and Ballito Lifestyle shopping centres on Tuesday.

This was part of a nationwide protest by the party against an TRESemmé advertisement used by the pharmacy chain, in which black hair was referred to as frizzy and dull, as well as dry and damaged.

Normal, fine and flat hair was displayed using white female models.

The advert sparked outrage from the EFF who said black people had been unfairly discriminated against.

A number of the protests have been violent, most notable the Clicks store at the Cycad Shopping Centre in Polokwane was damaged during a suspected petrol-bombing in the early hours of Monday morning.

EFF regional secretary, Ayanda Mhlongo said they were demanding that Clicks stores close until Friday.

The EFF has also since called for the removal of TRESemmé products from Clicks stores and that the person who signed off on the advert be fired.

Commenting on the possibility that store closures could result in job losses, Mhlongo said:

“It is not our aim that people lose income, but we have given them (Clicks) enough time to respond and they have not.

“We did not want to do this but we had no other option because they were not cooperating with our demands.”

Clicks has issued an apology for the ‘insensitive and offensive’ advert and suspended negligent employees.

While minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, rejected the apology and urged the retailer to remove TRESemmé products from its shelves, government has condemned the violence and called for calm.

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.”