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Protesters from a far-left party damaged pharmacies in South Africa on Monday and forced others to close during demonstrations for what they said was a racist advertisement.
The ad featured an image of black African hair that it described as “dry and damaged”, while an example of white hair was referred to as “fine and flat.” It was posted on the Clicks pharmacy chain’s website on Friday and was removed the same day after the uproar on social media. The firm apologized.
On Monday, protesters led by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) demanded that Clicks stores in South Africa be closed for at least a week. Some, dressed in the party’s signature red helmets and overalls, gathered outside Clicks stores and sang songs associated with the decades-long struggle to overthrow the apartheid regime in South Africa.
“The whites insult us and then they apologize, they think it’s the end. We will no longer accept any apology that is not accompanied by justice, ”EFF leader Julius Malema told his supporters in front of a closed Clicks store in Polokwane, Limpopo province. “Who is punished for projecting black people as ugly people?”
Racial prejudice remains a deep problem in South Africa more than 25 years after the collapse of apartheid. Wealth is still disproportionately distributed and multiple government initiatives have failed to provide equal opportunities to all communities.
The EFF was founded in 2013 and describes itself as a “radical and militant economic emancipation movement”.
The party has challenged the ruling African National Congress, which lost the support of many voters after a series of high-profile corruption scandals and a failure to dramatically improve the lives of millions of people living in poverty.
Video footage on Twitter showed EFF protesters tearing down shelves and destroying products in a store. Another appeared to have suffered fire damage.
Clicks, which runs hundreds of stores in South Africa, said there were 37 protests in total and seven were damaged.
The EFF said its protests had been peaceful and denied any connection to the more violent demonstrations.
However, the actions drew a strong rebuke from Tito Mboweni, the finance minister.
“We fight for freedom and democratic rights. Among others, freedom of expression, including protest. But not infringe the rights of others or the destruction of public and private property. These Bakuninists must understand this! ” Mboweni tweeted, comparing the EFF to the followers of the 19th century anarchist revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin.
The retailer said: “Clicks strongly condemns violence of any kind or intimidation of staff and their customers. Clicks will take legal action against the perpetrators and those who seek to incite violence or harm our people and our stores. “
The EFF increased its percentage of votes in the elections last year, but it is still a small party. Spectacular actions heavily covered by the local media are a key part of their strategy.
South Africa’s economy was weakening long before the Covid-19 pandemic, but now faces even greater challenges with rising unemployment, huge debts, and a weak currency.
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