- A picture of mugs labelled "The Maid" and "The Gardener", which were sold at a Pick n Pay store in Cape Town, sparked an outcry on social media.
- A domestic worker union has demanded an apology from the retail chain.
- The mugs have since been removed.
Pick and Pay came under fire on Tuesday after one of its stores sold mugs deemed offensive.
hi @PicknPay these mugs were on the shelf at your obs store. finding them hella problematic. pic.twitter.com/GuqEEIl6Cb
— toni toni ton'z (@toni_verna) October 30, 2018
The mugs sold at the store in Observatory were labelled "The Maid" and "The Gardener", and sparked an outcry after a Twitter user tweeted the photo.
This is really derogatory. How offended am I right now?
— Ngwan'elihle Nkosi Skhanda Love (@Khosi79) October 30, 2018
Dear @PicknPay As people who are the Maids and Gardeners, I find this is highly offensive. Sensitivity training is a requirement in your organisation
— Black Gold (@GodisanAfrican) October 30, 2018
Myrtle Witbooi, general secretary of the South African Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union, told Business Insider South Africa that the mugs were "very degrading".
"This takes us back to apartheid when utensils for gardeners and domestic workers were placed outside for (the workers). This takes us back as a people and we demand a public apology from the store."
Janine Caradonna, Pick and Pay spokesperson, told Business Insider that the mugs were only sold at one of its franchise stores.
"We have asked him [franchise owner] to remove them from sale immediately - which he has done," says Caradonna.
However, not everyone on social media thought the mugs were offensive.
Cups that display the names of each position two individuals fill in a household, as their job, is now a problem? People are so sensitive it’s unreal. What’s the difference between mugs that state “dad” or “mom”. Nothing.
— Jay ???? (@jaySA94) October 30, 2018
This reminds me of how, as a domestic in a white household, I was given my separate cup and plate while the dog ate off of the family china. Triggering!!! @PicknPay please explain https://t.co/Nq3M8zkvPk
— Doreen Morris (@DoreenMorris) October 31, 2018
I'm not sure what's offensive with these cups????....
— Charlotte Khumalo (@CharlotteKhuma3) October 30, 2018
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