Woolworths has responded to claims it has not directly promoted “racial discrimination” by way of its meals donations to non-profit firm FoodForward SA.
In response to commentary on social media this week, the retailer was accused of ignoring white South Africans in dire want based mostly on their donor’s Broad-Based mostly Black Financial Empowerment (B-BBEE) insurance policies.
WOOLWORTHS RESPONDS TO ‘RACIST POLICIES’ ALLEGATIONS
Following the allegations on the social media platform X, Woolworths tried to set the file straight that it promoted racial discrimination.
It posted: “We need to be very clear. Woolworths won’t ever deny meals donations to an individual in want based mostly on their race. Our surplus meals is distributed by way of Meals Ahead SA [FFSA] to those that want it most. Whereas FFSA has operational necessities that beneficiary organisations should meet, none of those are based mostly on race. Actually, FFSA states that organisations requesting membership ‘might not discriminate in opposition to any particular person on the premise of race.’
It continued: “At Woolworths, B-BBEE necessities do NOT issue into the place our surplus meals will land. The meals we donate by way of Meals Ahead SA has no related B-BBEE advantages for Woolworths. We accomplice with them for the environment friendly and moral distribution of surplus meals solely.
“Any of the 2000+ beneficiary organisations who obtain our surplus meals can verify that no donations are ever given on the situation of race”.
Woolworths warned in opposition to the “unfold of pretend information,” which might “deepen the divide between South Africans.”
It added: “We urge our prospects to be aware of the content material they share and to contact us straight with any questions they could have.”
NO DISCRIMINATION, SAYS FOODFORWARD SA
In response to an software for membership, FoodForward SA claims that donors “might not discriminate in opposition to any particular person on the premise of race, nationality, faith, political affiliation, and many others.”.
FoodForward SA was shaped in 2009. In response to Woolworths, it delivered 4 400 tonnes of meals to 600 NPOs in 2024, which resulted in 17.6 million meals for 250 000 hungry South Africans.
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