The Dis-Chem board has released a statement in relation to the recent controversy sparked by the memorandum from CEO Ivan Saltzman to his management team that was leaked over the weekend.
It is believed that the memo relaying Saltzman’s concern over Dis-Chem’s employment equity profile came across as being racially charged.
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The letter from the board expresses their regret regarding the tone and wording in which the internal memorandum was written. The board also deems the memo as “erroneous communication” and apologised for it.
“We acknowledge that it did not reflect our values. Its release did not follow our correct internal vetting processes and steps have been put in place to ensure that, going forward, relevant checks and balances are thoroughly duly performed.”
“More importantly, we sincerely regret the offence and distress it caused to so many people, including our staff and millions of loyal customers.”
“We deeply value all our employees and appreciate their contribution to Dis-Chem. We stand by the unequivocal imperative to continue our transformation journey. Equality, diversity, and inclusivity are important throughout Dis-Chem, and we continue to make great strides in ensuring that we maintain progress in this area.”
Following the leak, Saltzman has come under fire and people have since been calling for shoppers to boycott Dis-Chem.
The Dis-Chem board concluded their letter stating “We are a proudly South African business, which promotes inclusivity and representation of all South Africans, in their capacity as key stakeholders”.
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