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KwaSizabantu.
- Woolworths has stopped purchasing products from a supplier owned by KwaSizabantu.
- It is awaiting further information on allegations of serious human rights violations and ignoring sexual crimes, as well as fraud at the KZN mission.
- Mission owns the aQuellé bottled water brand, as well as a business that supplies fruits and vegetables to some of the largest retailers in South Africa.
- For more stories, visit www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
Woolworths has stopped doing business with the controversial fruit and vegetable supplier KwaSizabantu, while awaiting more information on the allegations of abuse and fraud at the mission.
KwaSizabantu is a Christian mission founded by Erlo Stegen in 1970. In a series of News24 reports, backed by accounts of victims, information emerged that some members of the church suffered physical, sexual and psychological abuse. The mission also faces allegations of fraud.
READ | Exodus | The Case of the Missing Millions: Hawks Investigating Financial Fraud at Mission KwaSizabantu
KwaSizabantu also owns Emseni Farming, which supplies pepper to Woolworths and other fruits and vegetables to Checkers, Shoprite and Spar.
“Woolworths has been informed of the allegations against the KwaSizabantu Mission. Emseni Farming, our supplier, cultivates on mission-owned land and, although the allegations do not implicate Emseni, we take allegations like these very seriously and will offer the authorities any help they may need. We have ceased all orders with Emseni Farming while we await further information from them, ”said a Woolworths spokesperson.
Woolworths buys peppers from Emseni.
Shoprite previously told News24 that it would review its acquisition of Emseni Farming in case adverse legal findings were made against it.
The retailer said Emseni Farming had been its supplier for the past 10 years, supplying sweet peppers, lettuce and pitahaya to its supermarkets in KwaZulu-Natal.
Through one of its companies, Ekhamanzi Springs, the mission also supplies bottled water to Quellé to some of South Africa’s giant retailers, including Pick n Pay, Makro, Spar, Shoprite, Checkers and Food Lover’s Market.
Massmart Holdings, owner of Makro, told Business Insider on Monday that the group learned of the allegations over the weekend and contacted KwaSizabantu for answers.
“We found out about KwaSizabantu’s dire allegations through media reports on weekends.
“All options are on the table in terms of our approach to the future, which will be determined by the response we receive from KwaSizabantu,” the group said.
Pick n Pay, which sells products to Quellé, also wants answers. “We have seen these serious allegations and have asked the supplier for their response,” the retailer said.
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