[ad_1]
EFF supporters at Menlyn Mall in Pretoria, South Africa.
- The EFF is expected to meet with Unilever on Thursday, following outrage over its hair announcement.
- In a letter to Unilever CEO Alan Jope, the party threatened to “crack down” if there was no response within 24 hours.
- The EFF will also meet with Clicks management on Thursday.
The EFF is expected to meet with British-Dutch consumer goods multinational Unilever on Thursday, after the party gave the company 24 hours to explain its recent TRESemmé announcement, which caused outrage following its publication in the Clicks website.
The party’s general secretary, Marshall Dlamini, wrote a letter Wednesday stating that he was seeking answers. He threatened “strong action” after Clicks informed him that the ad was commissioned by the entity on its website.
Since Monday, the EFF had targeted Clicks stores across the country to protest a hair ad that described the hair of the two black women depicted in it as “dry and damaged” and “frizzy and dull,” while that the description of white women’s hair was “fine and flat” and “normal”.
Clicks said that 425 stores had been affected by protests across the country and it was too early to assess the nature of the damage caused by the vandalism. Some stores were bombed or burned.
On Friday, Unilever issued an apology on its website, saying it was wrong.
“We are investigating how this happened and why it was not detected, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that it does not happen again,” the statement read.
According to the EFF, the meeting request came from Unilever and will take place at the EFF headquarters at 10:00.
The EFF delegation will be led by party leader Julius Malema and Unilever will be represented by Keegan Alicks.
The EFF will also meet with Clicks management, led by CEO Vikesh Ramsunder, on Thursday. Ramsunder apologized Sunday for the “insensitive and offensive” ad posted on its website. He said he was “deeply disappointed that we allowed insensitive and offensive images to be posted on our website.”
In a media update Wednesday night, Clicks said stores across the country would reopen for commerce on Thursday, with contingency plans to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
Several retailers, including the Shoprite group and Pick n Pay, have recalled TRESemmé products from their stores.
Did you know that you can comment on this article? Subscribe to News24 and add your voice to the conversation.
