BY SUTHENTIRA GOVENDER
Beleaguered fashion retailer H&M has been forced to close its doors and evacuate shoppers at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Durban amid a planned protest by EFF supporters on Tuesday morning.
Image: Jackie Clausen
A public announcement was made in-store for customers to leave immediately for safety reasons.
A notice placed at the entrance of H&M stated: “This store is temporarily closed. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.”
A contingent of police and mall security had been posted outside the store since early Tuesday morning in a bid to prevent a repeat of looting incidents seen at branches in Gauteng in recent days, where windows were broken and clothing items allegedly stolen.
Mall staff said the heavy police presence was a precaution – although there were no visible signs of EFF supporters.
H&M gateway closed to shoppers with threats of protest action by the EFF after a controversial advert @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/wYotVE3V0C
— Jackie Clausen Pics (@jackie_pics) January 16, 2018
The protests come in the wake of an advertisement by the international clothing company showing a black child in a green hoodie with the words “Coolest Monkey in the Jungle” inscribed on it, which caused worldwide outrage on social media and other platforms.
Police posted outside the store said about 14 protesters, in EFF regalia, were prevented from entering the mall by security.
“They were shown to the nearest taxi rank. We are monitoring the situation,” said the police officer.
Stores neighbouring H&M have also shut their doors and said they were taking no chances.
“I have closed up because we don’t want any looting. We’ve seen what happened in Gauteng,” one store manager said.
-TimesLIVE
