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- In an advertisement published in the Sunday Times, aQuellé warned that families and communities close to the KwaSizabantu mission could have their livelihoods affected by allegations of serious human rights abuses.
- News24 published the result of a seven-month investigation into allegations of serious human rights abuses and financial crimes at the mission, prompting retailers to seek answers from the water bottling company.
- Several retailers have already recalled mission-associated products from their shelves.
aQuellé warned that families and communities close to the KwaSizabantu mission (KSB) could have their livelihoods affected by reports of serious human rights abuses and financial crimes, published by News24 in an exhibition.
KwaSizabantu, a 50-year Christian mission in KwaZulu-Natal, founded by Erlo Stegen, owns the aQuellé sparkling water plant and supplies the bottled water to various retailers.
The company ran a half-page ad in the Sunday Times, seeking to reassure retailers and customers of its “commitment to transparency and upholding the strong ethical and moral values by which [it is] renowned”.
The KSB leadership was supposed to address an online press conference on Thursday, but instead played a clip prerecorded by mission leader Ruth Combrink and did not answer questions.
READ | ‘The truth will come out’ – Buthelezi weighs in on KwaSizabantu’s accusations, his connection to the mission
“It is important to acknowledge the communities around us and the people we serve who have supported us so much. We thank everyone we work with. [sic] and all those who provide us with services, ”the ad said.
“It is important to note that these are the people whose livelihoods may be affected by these allegations. Their families and their communities may well suffer and we must all unite to prevent this from happening.”
Several retailers have already taken action against the brand, following complaints of wrongdoing, abuse and money laundering in the religious mission linked to the watermark. Retailers Pick n Pay and Makro have demanded answers, while Woolworths has stopped buying from a supplier owned by KwaSizabantu.
Furthermore, the organizers of Absa Cape Epic, the annual mountain bike race, have decided to leave Quellé as the sponsor of the event.
In a letter to his clients, aQuellé said it would appoint a panel made up of people from the legal, political, business and grassroots to investigate the allegations. The letter, which was sent on Monday, labels the report as “sensational, vicious and [of a] inaccurate nature in fact “.
In the announcement, aQuellé confirmed that an independent legal panel had been appointed to investigate the allegations and provide an independent report on the matter.
“We would like to encourage those who have complaints highlighted in the video to contact the panel to ensure their stories are told and justice is served. We believe that all perpetrators should be brought to their books and we sincerely hope that News24 Those of us facilitating this on behalf of everyone named in your program to ensure that alleged abused people have their cases heard and restitution is achieved. “
