EFF leader Julius Malema shutting down the Clicks store in the Cycad Shopping Centre in Limpopo on 7 September 2020. Picture: @EFFSouthAfrica/Twitter
Faizel Patel – 08/09/2020
The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) says the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is using the Clicks racist TRESemme hair advert largely to boost its own image.
The TRESemme advert published on the Clicks website portrayed black natural hair as “dry, damaged and frizzy” while labeling a white women’s hair as “normal”.
EFF leaders mobilised members to close Clicks stores nationwide after the racist advert was published on the retailer’s website.
The red berets want Clicks to fire the company and staff behind their TRESemmé ad and demanded that all outlets shut their doors until Friday.
Former Minister of Tourism, Derek Hannekom referring to the EFF in a tweet said: “They are thugs. Corrupt thugs. Anything to divert attention from VBS or any attempt to deal with corruption.”
They are thugs. Corrupt thugs. Anything to divert attention from VBS or any attempt to deal with corruption. https://t.co/BFjbSY46MI
— Derek Hanekom (@Derek_Hanekom) September 7, 2020
Speaking to Radio Islam, the IJR’s Stan Henkeman says while he believes the EFF was sincere in their protest, the party needs the publicity to boost their image.
“This is just another thing that the EFF is jumping on because it gives them airtime. Nitsche said, ‘In your attempt to slay the monster, be careful that you don’t become the monster.’ I am afraid when I listen to Floyd Shivambu say ‘bring your lawyers, bring your court interdicts and so forth we will not listen’, now that’s not helpful, that’s not useful because you are creating another problem out of one problem.”
Henkeman however says that pressure must be put on Clicks to educate the brand that racism 26-years of democracy is unacceptable.
“Click has no excuse, it was an advert for their stores. The pressure that they are feeling now is completely justified. The nature of the pressure I think that we can debate, but I agree that pressure needs to be put on Clicks to understand the insult to black people that this ad created.”
Henkeman says South Africans of all races need to sit down and have a deep comfortable conversation around issues including racism, oppression and the pain of apartheid, to take the country forward and true democracy.
Listen to the interview with Stan Henkeman
0 Comments