Clicks at Alberton mall vandalised with hammers and set alight
A mall in Alberton on the East Rand was forced to shut down after a Clicks store at the centre was vandalised and set alight on Monday morning.
Ekurhuleni emergency services spokesperson Eric Maloka told TimesLIVE that EFF supporters caused havoc at Lemon Tree Mall in Alberton about 9am on Monday.
This comes as the EFF is leading a protest aimed at shutting stores run by the beauty and health retailer countrywide, after it ran an advert deemed demeaning to black hair.
“The employees [of Clicks] saw them [EFF supporters] approaching the mall and they managed to close all the doors before they could enter.
EFF supporters shut down #Clicks store at North Cape Mall in Kimberley on Monday. Video: Supplied @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/d5RRdCtdcG
— Iavan Pijoos (@iavanpijoos) September 7, 2020
More visuals of disruptions at #Clicks at North Cape Mall in Kimberley. Video: Supplied pic.twitter.com/ilYFj1OqGg
— Iavan Pijoos (@iavanpijoos) September 7, 2020
IN PICTURES: A #Clicks store at Lemon Tree Shopping Centre in Alberton was thrashed and set alight on Monday morning. Credit: Ekurhuleni Disaster Management. @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/cEypcER2ba
— Iavan Pijoos (@iavanpijoos) September 7, 2020
“But they broke the glass door with hammers and vandalised the shelves. They also then started a fire inside the store,” Maloka said.
Maloka said 12 staff members who were inside the store, managed to escape through the emergency back entrance.
He said firefighters had managed to extinguish the blaze.
“The management at the mall decided that they would shut down the entire mall in the next hour.”
Gauteng police could not immediately comment on the matter.
TimesLIVE
Members of the EFF, led by deputy president Floyd Shivambu, protested outside the Clicks retail store in Sandton City as part of a nationwide protest on September 7 2020. This comes after the retail group released a TRESemmé advert on its website that has been condemned by the EFF as racist. Meanwhile, police are investigating several incidents across the country where stores were vandalised.
LISTEN | Celebs weigh in on 'racist' Clicks ad campaign and ensuing protests
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