Clicks closes amid race row

Health and beauty retailer Clicks has announced that it has dropped the Tresemme line of products and has delisted the brand from its shelves, with immediate effect.

The company also took a decision to keep branches closed yesterday (Wednesday), saying stores would re-open today (Thursday) following the EFF’s countrywide protests.

ALSO READ : South Coast EFF joins in shutdown of Clicks stores

The closure meant branches were unable to provide prescription medication to customers, and the public sector medicine pick-up points were also temporarily unavailable.

Clicks advised customers on chronic medication to take their empty medicine bottles to their nearest pharmacy and request an emergency supply to tide them over.

The protest action was sparked by an advert which depicted black women’s hair as frizzy, dull, dry and damaged, while it described white women’s hair as normal, fine and flat.

The EFF flocked to Clicks stores across the country on Monday this week, including five on the Lower South Coast.

Branches at Oribi Plaza, Southcoast Mall, Port Edward, Hibiscus Mall and Shelly Centre were affected.

Speaking at Oribi Plaza, EFF chairman Ncedo Njenga said they planned to ensure the stores remained closed throughout the week.

“We are here to protect our sisters against racism, we are saying racism must fall. The advert undermined black women and those involved should suffer the consequences.”

A group of protesters also gathered outside the Scottburgh Mall branch of Clicks on Monday morning this week and forced the shop to close its doors.

The demonstration was peaceful, with the group sitting outside the store singing protest songs.

Not all the protests were peaceful as some branches were vandalised and one in Polokwane was reportedly petrol-bombed.

The EFF said that the advert undermined the dignity of black South Africans and suggested that the ‘hair of black people is damaged and inferior to that of white people’.

Meanwhile, Clicks has also committed to working with the government to develop the local beauty market.

On Tuesday, the retailer said it would replace the brand with locally-sourced haircare brands.

Chief executive Vikesh Ramsunder said the events of the past few days had had a significant impact on staff and customers.

He added that head office staff would undergo diversity training.

“We will use this opportunity to engage directly with all our store staff across the country, to provide counselling and support.”

A senior executive who was responsible for the publishing of the advert has resigned, while two junior staffers remain under suspension.

Mr Ramsunder said those under suspension would undergo a fair disciplinary process, which would be overseen by an independent external chairman.

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