Foschini Group CEO Doug Murray said there was a possibility of more T-shirts being pulled from its stores following the removal of three "offensive" shirts.
Murray said two T-shirts from Sportscene and one from Markham - all in different styles - were pulled off the shelves on Tuesday, 25 October 2011, but he could not say how many of the colourful and popular items had already been sold.
A reader of Feminist SA led the opposition to the tops and "a number of journalists and academics" signed a petition.
The fashion group was accused of flouting women's rights and being ignorant of the HIV/Aids pandemic in South Africa.
One of the peach-coloured T-shirts at Sportscene read: "HOW TO GET LAID: Borrow your dad's Porsche, Flash a lot of cash, Lie and tell her you love her."
Another read: "I put the STD in STUD. All I need is U."
Murray phoned The Times on Tuesday, saying his group "didn't know what else to do" because the T-shirts had been withdrawn.
"This is a fashion trend that's existed internationally and we've had slogan T-shirts for a while. There were three tees which had messages which some people may have termed 'derogatory'.
"We've immediately removed them from shops, full stop," he said.
Murray said the group's vetting system would be reviewed, and that it would remove other items found to be offensive.
He also said some customers "might find it offensive" whereas others "think it's tongue-in-cheek".
Foschini owns Donna-Claire, Luella, Exact, Totalsports, American Swiss, Markham and Sportscene.
Source: The Times