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A company logo for the South African supermarket chain SPAR Group is seen on a trolley outside a store in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 7, 2022.
Various political parties, such as the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Patriotic Alliance (PA), South African Communist Party (SACP), along with civic organisations, the South African National Civic Organisation in the North West, have closed down the SuperSpar in Orkney outside Klerksdorp for a second day.
They gathered outside the shop in solidarity with the workers demanding a salary hike of R1 000.
The parties say the employer failed to implement a previous salary increase agreement.
The group’s representative Lehlohonolo Mahogen says there are issues of racism, unfair labour practices and the hiring of illegal foreigners.
“There is an issue of racism within the store, black workers are earning peanuts. While their white counterparts are earning more money. Older women who have been employed for 10 to 15 years, some even 20 years, having started with the shop, but some are still earning R4 800 to R5600 as cashiers, as shelf packers, as bakery and daily employees. White workers, upon being hired, their starting salary will be plus or minus R10 000 to R11 000. There is also an issue of the management hiring undocumented foreigners within the shop.”
