Monday, June 9, 2008

SABMiller could score positive PR by spending a small amount to help victims of xenophobia.

SABMiller are currently engaged in a Texas hold 'em style battle for global beer market supremacy. It has made a great deal of the stake it is currently playing with from sales of quarts in township shebeens here in South Africa.
Those quarts are not the root of the recent violent attacks on mainly foreigners but they fueled the 'Dutch courage' desperately needed by the perpetrators.
It would make a great deal of marketing positives for SABMiller to put some money into alleviating and reducing the root causes of these attacks. There is no need for SABMiller to accept blame and undertake to contribute out of guilt, simply putting themselves into the local picture in a positive manner.
The smoke has cleared with no evidence of any third force but many displaced and battered victims.
SABMiller, as by far the biggest seller of beer in South Africa, is conspicuous by its absence in providing any sort of assistance at all. With petty cash it could help current victims as well as provide a backbone for a way forward to alleviating the root causes of these attacks. Poverty and unemployment.

No comments: