SAHRC meets H&M but EFF a no-show

19 January 2018 - 19:30 By Timeslive
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
The Sandton City H&M store after EFF members ransacked it over the racially offensive advert.
The Sandton City H&M store after EFF members ransacked it over the racially offensive advert.
Image: Supplied

Retail clothing store H&M agreed on Friday to present the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) with its plan on how to rectify the issues raised by its advert of a black child in a hoodie with the slogan “coolest monkey in the jungle”.

The advert sparked protests during which Economic Freedom Fighters members trashed H&M stores.

According to a statement by the HRC‚ the commission told H&M that “in the context of South Africa‚ words such as ‘baboon’ and ‘monkey’ are not neutral terms” and are used to demean black people’s humanity and position certain races as superior to others. 

H&M said the company was aware that its apology was insufficient to address the hurt the advert had caused. 

“We made a terrible mistake and we would like South Africans to understand that it will never happen again‚” said H&M representative Rob Hekkers.

H&M said it will begin diversity training for its staff and will send the HRC a draft plan by 26 January of how the company will address issues raised by its advertising campaign. 

“Attempts [by the HRC] to meet the EFF were not successful‚” the commissions statement said.


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now