Pick n Pay, EFF meet after Julius Malema threatens to shutdown the retail giant’s stores in SA

Malema

Cape Town – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has met with retail giant Pick n Pay after the party threatened to shutdown its stores nationwide, following claims of unfairness and exploitation.

According to The South African, EFF leader Julius Malema, had accused Pick N Pay of “turning their backs” on poor franchisees in black communities, leaving them with million-rand debts.

The conduct was deemed wholly unacceptable by Malema and his party, the report said.

“We have written two letters to Pick N Pay requesting a meeting with them, to raise the concerns of the exploited Franchisees, but they have refused. Bosses have used black people to establish their presence in communities – but have now have turned against them.”

“If they continue to refuse to meet the EFF, they will leave us with no option but to close all Pick N Pay stores in South Africa. We will write to them the third and final letter, and we demand that they must positively respond this time, or we will be forced into militant action,” the report quoted Malema as saying last month.
The EFF confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it had met with Pick n Pay Group Chief Executive Officer Pieter Boone and lead independent non-executive director Jeff van Rooyen in Johannesburg on Monday.

The EFF delegation was led by party deputy president Floyd Shivambu.
The party said that they had held a “constructive meeting”.
“In a collaborative effort to build trust, and to seek a consensus on the way forward, it was agreed that an independent inquiry led by a senior counsel will be set up to review the company’s actions, policies, and conduct, in relation to its franchise and market store scheme, and in particular the outcomes for former black franchisees,” read the statement.
It continued: “Transparent one-on-one consultations will take place as a matter of urgency between Pick n Pay and individual former franchisees and market store owners to investigate and seek to resolve individual grievances raised.

“The duration of the independent inquiry, Pick n Pay will suspend any legal action for the recovery of monies owing by any former franchisee.

The EFF and Pick n Pay also agreed that the allegations made required urgent attention.

They both committed to “this process in good faith”.

Picture: Getty Images 

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu 

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