Murmurs have surfaced on social media claiming that the notorious right-wing extremist group Boeremag bore arms and took their positions outside a Clicks retail store in Hermanus, Western Cape, on Wednesday.
Boeremag sightings reported in Hermanus
This, it is said, was a measure the group took to prevent the beauty and cosmetics store from being shut down by rioting members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Our attempts to confirm this claim with Hermanus authorities were unsuccessful.
Nonetheless, supporters of Boeremag surfaced on Twitter, claiming that a strategic defence was reportedly applied by lobby group AfriForum and the extremist Boeremag to prevent rioters from looting the Clicks store.
What we know about Boeremag
Boeremag is recognised by the South African government as a right-wing terrorist organisation. The group has, for a long time, been linked to the infamous Soweto bombings of 2002.
The Boeremag has also been charged with the attempted murder of late former president Nelson Mandela. Many of its members, including ringleader Thomas Vorster, have been in prison since they were convicted of treason and other crimes between 2003 and 2013.
Clicks remains closed, TRESemmé pulled from shelves
The cosmetics giant has faced widespread criticism for its complicity in a racially triggering blunder that was seen on its website. Since then, the EFF has aggressively moved to disturb the retailer’s operations.
The protests, met with the backlash on social media, forced Clicks to take restorative actions and amongst other things, cut ties with TRESemmé.
Soon afterwards, it’s reported that Pick n Pay, Shoprite and Woolworths have followed suit in pulling the cosmetics brand from their respective shelves.
This, however, is not the worst TRESemmé.has faced. On Wednesday, the EFF issued a statement, giving the cosmetics brand 24 hours “to explain itself on this racist advert.”
“Should we not receive a response within 24 hours, we will take the most robust action against TRESemmé, with no further notice,” the statement read.
Regarding the reports of a standoff with Boeremag, nothing was heard from the political party.