Woolworths closes the Employment Equity debate

Woolworths closed comments on its Facebook page on Thursday after it was inundated by what it calls hate speech vitriol.

The JSE-listed retailer posted a statement explaining its position.

“Disabling our wall was not a decision we took lightly and not one we're particularly happy about. But when your page becomes little more than a platform for a well-orchestrated campaign of hate speech, we owe it to our customers not to subject them to such vitriol in our own house,” the statement read.

The social media frenzy started at the weekend when self-proclaimed "South African Internet entrepreneurial pioneer" Justin Harrison posted on his blog that Woolworths "blatantly" posted advertisements on its jobs site that were "exclusive of whites" (www.bdlive.co.za).

Harrison called for the public to boycott the retailer until such time they apologised and revised their hiring policy to be inclusive of and equal for all South Africans.

Defending its position, Woolworths said like all South African companies it had a role to play in transformation. And it was for this reason that some underrepresented positions were reserved for designated groups: blacks, coloureds, Indians, women and people with disabilities.

But Woolworths was at pains to point out that it employs people of all races.

As per regulations of the Employment Equity Act, companies that employ more than 50 staff members are compelled to fulfil race, gender and disability quotas.

Several organisations including trade union Solidarity and Pro-Afrikaans Action Group (Praag) echoed Harrison’s call for a Woolworths boycott.

“We have allowed thousands of comments on our Facebook page, debating the pros and cons of Employment Equity and deleted only overt hate speech and comments inciting violence. However, many customers have asked us to stop hosting this vitriol. We will re-open our page as soon as we think we can resume reasonable discussion,” the Woolwoths statement continued.

Meanwhile DESTINY readers had this to say on our Facebook page:

• Much ado about nothing. Maybe just a lesson in copy writing; A simple " AA appointments" wouldn't have had many people so hot under the collar.
• I'm simply disgusted with white people who think affirmative action is an unfair practice. They are very vocal when things are not in their favour. Woolworths is not the first company and surely not the last to do this. The war unleashed on the Woolworths’ Facebook page was unnecessary. White people are very angry not to have things their way, it’s sad to witness.
• Whites weren't previously disadvantaged, blacks, coloureds, Indians and disabled people were, that's what this is about.
• Guess we could do with some white cashiers and shelf-packers. Blacks are overrepresented in that area. Woolies must focus on getting more blacks in managerial posts.
• It’s sad that our country is embroiled in this nonsense. Employment should not be based on colour; it should be based on the best man/woman for the job. Apartheid was a cruel and we have carried it with us long after we were supposed to move on. What's sad is young South Africans are getting caught up in it, when those of us who are eligible for employment were so young when it took place. Black, white, coloured and Indian South Africans should be encouraged to stand together and build this country up - that's the only real way to repair the damage apartheid caused. Yet we're being bombarded with negative propaganda, encouraging the hatred.