By Tanisha Heiberg
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Clicks Group
The advert by TRESemm, which was posted on Clicks’ website on Friday, showed an image of African black hair which it described as “frizzy and dull,” while an example of white hair was referred to as “normal.”
Clicks removed the advert and apologised, as did TRESemm South Africa.
Clicks said all employees responsible for publishing the advertisement have been suspended and it had accepted the resignation of the senior executive responsible.
The advert caused an outcry on social media and sparked protests led by hard-left opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which demanded that stores be shut for at least a week.
The advert also drew criticism from government with the Minister for Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, rejecting Click’s apology saying it was “meaningless” and called for the TRESemm products to be removed from its shelves.
Unilever did not respond to requests for comment.
On Tuesday, some Clicks stores around the country remained closed after demonstrators damaged seven shops the previous day.
The company said it planned to close all stores on Wednesday to provide counselling and support to staff but that it would reopen stores on Thursday.
“We recognise this event has had a significant impact on our people and our customers and we have taken a decision to close our stores for a day on Wednesday 9 September,” Clicks CEO Vikesh Ramsunder said in a statement.
Courts on Tuesday blocked the EFF from preventing the opening of Clicks stores and intimidating employees and customers, eNCA television reported.
It is unclear what impact store closures would have on the company, which has already warned that trading would be tough for the rest of its financial year due to the coronavirus crisis.
Makers of consumer packaged goods have reconsidered their marketing following global protests against racial injustice. Several brands have scrapped Black advertising mascots.
(Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; editing by David Evans and Nick Zieminski)
