EFF pushes for H&M store closure
DA condemns vandalism
H&M stores across South Africa are on tenterhooks as members of the EFF demand that the Swedish retail giant permanently shuts shop.
Several H&M stores were left trashed and vandalised by EFF members who stormed several shops in protest on Saturday.
The retailer has become a target of the red berets following a controversial advert in which a black child wore a sweater with words: “Coolest monkey in the jungle.”
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said H&M would “not transform” and must just “pack and go”.
“No one must accept jobs in exchange for racial degradation and humiliation,” he said.
H&M has 17 stores in South Africa, mainly in the big shopping malls in urban centres including Sandton City, Mall of the South, and Menlyn Mall in Pretoria, among others.
In Boksburg, at the East Rand Mall, the H&M store was abruptly closed and shoppers ordered out just before 1pm yesterday following threats of a looming EFF invasion.
The retailer, which announced temporarily closing all its South African shops on Saturday, had resumed business yesterday before the East Rand Mall branch hurriedly closed doors, with some customers having to bend underneath half-closed roller doors.
Staff were apparently alerted to threats by members of the EFF coming to protest at the store.
“Sorry mam, due to the EFF, we are unfortunately closing the shop now,” one H&M staffer was overheard telling a customer who was busy doing shopping.
Another said they had been told to close the shop immediately as a “precaution”.
Ndlozi commended EFF members “for taking action against anti-black racism”.
“We stand by their protest action and [are] proud that it was delivered without even looting any item or stealing,” he said despite Gauteng police earlier confirming that items were stolen at East Rand Mail.
Ndlozi said its members “registered their disgust at racism, the best way such disgust in such a context can be expressed”.
Meanwhile, at Sandton City it was business as usual for H&M yesterday although under increased security vigilance both inside and outside the store.
Three security men dressed in black set up camp just outside the store, with shoppers seemingly unfazed by EFF protesters.
In a statement on Saturday, H&M said that for the sake of the safety of staff and customers it had decided to shut down all its shops as it “monitored” the situation.
DA national spokeswoman and deputy chairwoman Refiloe Nt’sekhe called on the EFF to be held accountable for the vandalism.
“The EFF must be held accountable for all the damages incurred as a result of this deplorable vandalism and EFF leader Julius Malema must pay back the money for all damages incurred and compensate the employees who had to put in more hours clearing the mess,” she said in a statement yesterday, adding: “Trashing of stores cannot be condoned as it does not begin to topple the real elephant in the room – racism.”
No one must accept jobs in exchange for racial degradation