WATCH: EFF you, Clicks!

It was a blue Monday for Clicks, who saw red as the EFF made good on their threat to shut down their stores across the country.

The health and beauty chain says at least 37 stores in five provinces have been affected by the protests, which saw several shops being vandalised and looted.

Meanwhile, Clicks CEO Vikesh Ramsunder announced that those employees involved in the commissioning of its controversial hair product advert have been suspended, while the SA Human rights Commission has launched its own investigation into the matter.

Clicks found itself in a storm after posting a racially offensive advert about bushy and frizzy hair on its website.

In a TRESemmé marketing campaign, they posted pictures of afro hair and labelled it “dry, dull and damaged”, compared with straight blonde hair, which was labelled “normal” and “fine and flat”.

Both Clicks and TRESemmé have apologised for the ad, admitting that they were wrong, but the EFF said this was not enough and demanded that heads roll.

EFF leader Julius Malema led the charges at the Mall of the North in Polokwane where he locked the store’s doors with a chain and a padlock.

People on social media raised concerns about the jobs that stand to be lost should Clicks remain closed, but Malema responded: “The workers do not own Clicks. It is not their making that Clicks is closed, salaries are guaranteed.

“It is imagination, actually, it is the highest form of stupidity to think that when you fight white capital you are fighting workers.”

Malema said they want Clicks to lose money as the company “does not care about black lives”.

A Clicks store in Mpumalanga was petrol-bombed around 1pm, but the party has distanced itself from the bombing.

Clicks said there were protests at 37 stores in KZN, Gauteng, Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and seven stores were damaged.

In Cape Town, EFF national chairperson Veronica Mente was at Goodwood Mall demanding the closure of the winkel, saying: “We want to send a strong message that we will not tolerate any form of racism.

“If you use the hair of a black child and depict it as dirty then it means the dignity of the black person is not respected.”

A few shoppers who came to collect their medication from the Clicks pharmacy said they were not allowed to enter the store.

EFF provincial chairperson Melikhaya Xhego was arrested in George, the party’s spokesperson in the province Wandile Kasibe, however, said police did not confirm this by last night.

Meanwhile, the SAHRC spokesperson Gushwell Brooks said they have written to Clicks, calling for a meeting “for the retail store to explain itself concerning the content of the advert.”

Ramsunder says those involved in the advert have been suspended.

“Already, the negligent employees have been suspended and we have engaged the supplier who has now also issued an apology.

“This incident has highlighted the need to audit all our third party, and our own promotional material for any implicit or explicit bias as well as the need for a diversity training programme.”

Ramsunder says their stores will not close and continue trading.

“We appeal to all stakeholders to engage with us so that we redress actions to demonstrate our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“We will take the necessary precautionary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our customers and our employees.

“This includes dealing with the threat of the disruption of our business activities and intimidation of our customers and employees.”

The EFF said it will continue with the shutdown until Friday.

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