JOHANNESBURG - Some Nike stores were closed in SA on Wednesday after public outcry over a racist comment by Adam Catzavelos.
Catzavelos's wife works for the global sport brand.
Nike declined to comment on the store closures, but issued a statement reiterating its “long-standing commitment to diversity, inclusion and respect”, adding that the man seen in a video posted online was not a company employee.
In the video, taken at a beach resort, a white man with a South African accent says: “And not one k****r in sight. F******g heaven on earth.”
An online news service said that Catzavelos was married to a merchandising director at Nike.
A Nike spokesperson in London declined to comment and Reuters was unable to independently verify the person’s identity.
South African media reported Nike stores had closed their doors and witnesses confirmed that two stores were shut at a mall in Sandton.
The EFF said it would file a criminal complaint against the man in the video.
In January, protesters led by the EFF trashed six H&M stores over an ad by the retail chain which featured a black child modelling a sweatshirt with the slogan “coolest monkey in the jungle.”
Businesses 'disgusted' by #AdamCatzavelos remarks
A number of businesses have also decided to distance themselves from Catzavelos company, St George's Fine Foods, due to his racist comments, according to a report by News24.
Butcher Boys director, Derryck Myers, said that "we had a conference call and we are disassociating ourselves immediately from St George's".
Meyers said: "We do not support what Adam has done".
Butcher Boys purchases a specific sauce from the company and further noted that ending supply could risk the employment of 150 staff.
"They supply us a product that is specifically made for Butcher Boys and without that product, we would put a lot of people out of work."
Butcher Boy's shareholders met and decided that they needed to source the product somewhere else due to the racist comments by Catzavelos.
Meyers did add that he did not work with Adam but rather dealt with his father George.
The second company to cut ties with St George's Fine Foods was restaurant chain, Braza. The restaurant said that they noted "with disgust" the remarks by Adam Catzavelos.
"We distance ourselves from these remarks and have communicated to St George’s Fine Foods that we will no longer be doing any business with them nor will we be doing any business with an entity which is in any way associated with Adam Catzavelos," Braza's director Andy Papaspyrou said in a press statement.
The director of the Rib Zone, Dragan Krunic, also said on Wednesday that his company will be cutting ties with Catzavelos and St George's Fine Foods.
"I'm disgusted and I condemn fully his actions. I couldn't believe what he did," Krunic said.