Pick n Pay statement on relationship with Steve Hofmeyr

03 November 2014

Pick n Pay totally rejects Steve Hofmeyr's comments on apartheid. They have no place in South Africa.

We are saddened that, in opposing these offensive comments, some people have chosen to make Pick n Pay a target (see article by Conrad Koch).  They will have to explain why they feel it right to attack an organisation which has no relationship with Steve Hofmeyr, and which has an exemplary record in opposing injustice, rather than addressing their concern to the person who caused the offence.  

We have got caught up in this issue because we sponsor a festival of concerts which feature many other artists and bring much pleasure to a lot of people.  Although we do not have any influence over who performs at these concerts, we have made it clear to the organisers our total opposition to Steve Hofmeyr's comments (see below). They have confirmed that he is still scheduled to perform.  

It would be very sad if a misdirected social media campaign resulted in us no longer being able to support these concerts.  But, in view of recent events we will reviewing our future sponsorship of the festival.

Statement issued by Pick n Pay, November 3 2014

Tweet by Steve Hofmeyr:

Sorry to offend but in my books Blacks were the architects of Apartheid. Go figure.

— Steve Hofmeyr (@steve_hofmeyr) October 23, 2014

His explanation to Netwerk24 as to what he meant:

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