Dis-Chem has become embroiled in a reputational furore after the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) launched a formal investigation into social media posts reportedly made by shareholder Mark Saltzman – son of the company’s original founders – in which he allegedly used the k-word, reports Daily Maverick.
Saltzman is the son of founders Ivan and Lynette Saltzman, and although a shareholder in the group, holds no board or management position and, noted the company, has no authority to speak on its behalf.
“His comments and conduct do not reflect the views, values or position of our board, management team or broader business,” Dis-Chem CEO Rui Morais said.
The controversy erupted after an account using Saltzman’s name became involved in exchanges on X with journalist and broadcaster Redi Tlhabi over her posts about Israel.
During the exchange, Saltzman reportedly made claims about Tlhabi and later retracted allegations that, while working at a previous broadcaster, she had taken money from Saltzman’s mother’s foundation.
The X account was deleted after the exchange, but has since been reactivated.
In a post on X on Sunday, 17 May, Tlhabi said: “For months, @Dischem‘s Mark Saltzman (who has now deleted his account) called me a bitch. I did nothing. I assumed he was another angry troll. I didn’t know who he was until he outed himself and talked about his mommy’s money.”
The SAHRC said it had taken note of the social media content reportedly posted by Saltzman and condemned the use of the k-word as one of the most painful and degrading slurs in South Africa’s history.
Saltzman’s use of the word on X was on 12 February and is apparently unrelated to his slur on Tlhabi last week, when he referred to her as a “bitch”.
The commission’s intervention followed calls on social media for a boycott of Dis-Chem, placing the retailer in the position of having to answer for the conduct of a shareholder over whom it has no direct authority.
In an internal message to staff dated 22 May, Dis-Chem CEO Rui Morais said the company was “taking this matter very seriously” and “disappointed and upset by the language, comments and sentiments that have been expressed”. He said these did not reflect the company’s culture or values.
Dis-Chem told Daily Maverick that it had written directly to Saltzman, calling on him to publicly retract the false statements made, publicly apologise for the language and tone of his posts, and provide a written undertaking to refrain from similar conduct in future.
The company posted on X on Tuesday, 19 May: “We have no record of any payment being made to Ms Tlhabi in her personal capacity by either the company or the Dis-Chem Foundation. Any inference otherwise is false.”
The group has also paused all work with Saltzman Attorneys, issued public statements distancing itself from the comments, briefed its board, and engaged independent legal counsel on its options.
Morais said Dis-Chem was co-operating fully with the SAHRC investigation and had reserved all legal rights.
“We have already taken a number of active steps to protect our people, our brand and our reputation,” he said in the internal message. “We are monitoring the situation closely and will take further action as and when it is required.”
Dis-Chem’s legal position is that shareholders can express personal views independently of the business and that the company does not have authority over shareholders acting in their private capacity. But Morais said the company would “continue to explore every appropriate avenue” to protect its brand, employees, stakeholders and the dignity of others.
Dis-Chem was founded by Ivan and Lynette Saltzman in 1978 and has grown into one of South Africa’s largest pharmacy retailers.
The company’s social media feeds were flooded with criticism after screenshots of the posts circulated online. Some users called for a boycott of the retailer, while others demanded that Dis-Chem explain Saltzman’s relationship to the company and the Dis-Chem Foundation.
In the internal message, Morais told employees that the leadership team was not “standing still” and would keep staff informed as the matter developed.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
After 42 years, end of an era for Dis-Chem founders
Dis-Chem changes boost investor confidence
Dis-Chem distances itself from shareholder Mark Saltzman as SAHRC probes racist posts