We have just been informed of a violent clash between Clicks protesters and armed police officers that took place at a shopping centre, on Thursday.
Clicks protesters clash with police – What we know
At this time, we have not been able to source reliable information on where this incident took place. According to social media murmurs, this took place at a centre in Stellenbosch, Cape Town.
From what we understand, the group of protesters are members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the political party at the forefront of protests against Clicks.
The video below was posted by renowned crime reporter Yusuf Abramjee.
Mzansi thanks EFF for taking action against racism
It has been a week of tensions and clashes between EFF members and people protecting their rights to shop as they please at Clicks stores.
In Hermanus, it’s reported that the notorious terrorist organisation, the Boeremag, bore arms and took up positions in and outside a Clicks outlet in the coastal holiday town, waiting for EFF members.
Other parts of the country have also reported store closures led by the shutdown movement that was commanded by EFF leader Julius Malema on Sunday.
The polarising protests have left South Africans divided. Some have bemoaned the negative impact this nationwide shutdown of the cosmetics giant may have on low-to-middle income workers.
On the other hand, many supporters of the shutdown believe that this is the appropriate energy to meet systemic racism that has oppressed black people for aeons.
On Thursday, the EFF released a statement after a meeting was held with Clicks South Africa and Unilever, noting the following outcomes:
- Unilever expresses its remorse to all South Africans, black women in particular, for the racist TRESemmè image
- Unilever will withdraw all TRESemmè products from all retail stores for a period of 10 days as a demonstration of its remorse for the offensive and racist image
- In addition, Unilever will donate a minimum of 10 000 sanitary towels (pads) and sanitisers to informal settlements identified by the EFF.
No agreement was reached on the publication of all those who were involved in the display of the racist advert.