The National Coalition 4 Palestine (NC4P), a coalition of more than 30 organisations which includes the ANC Youth League, Cosatu, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), PSC Cape Town, Pan African Congress (PAC) as well as other organisations, held a press conference in Cape Town today where we pledged our continued support for the #BoycottWoolworths campaign despite Woolworths’ attempts to interdict Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) South Africa.

 

Woolworths has refused to meet with activists and concerned consumers, instead choosing to use its corporate muscle to bully a human rights organisation. Woolworths mistakenly believes that taking BDS SA to court will end the #BoycottWoolworths campaign .Nothing could be further from the truth. In the past four days, protests against Woolworths have been held in Durban, Cape Town, Polokwane and Lenasia and elsewhere around the country to advance the #BoycottWoolworths campaign, none of these have been organised by BDS SA. Thousands of individuals have joined the #BoycottWoolworths campaign and Woolworths can’t possibly interdict everyone.

 

Organisations that make up the NC4P will continue with the #BoycottWoolworths campaign, regardless of the outcome of the interdict application towards BDS SA.

 

Speaking at the press conference today, Lwazi Somya, representing the ANCYL said that “Solidarity can’t be interdicted” He also indicated that members at the upcoming ANCYL congress this week will advance a resolution to support and intensify the #BoycottWoolworths campaign.

 

Marthie Momberg,a private Woolworths shareholder and  speaking on behalf of Kairos Southern Africa, a Christian based organisation challenged shareholders and investors to take an active role in challenging the trade with Israel at the AGM

Mike Makin of Cape Town Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) said “an injury to one is an injury to all, a court interdict of BDS SA, won’t stop the Boycott of Woolworths”.

 Nabeweya Malick representing the Muslim Judicial Council pledged the organisation’s full support for the #BoycottWoolworths campaign, she added "that this is a decisive period in South Africa, Woolworths it would seem is aligning themselves with the wrong side of history".

Clint le Bruyns of KwaZulu Natal PSF said he notes "with great concern the reaction of Woolworths on the ethical points of the campaign by refusing dialogue. He added there is a bigger picture; the campaign makes us think about corporate social responsibility which Woolworths is dismally at"

Organisations have pledged to intensify the #BoycottWoolworths campaign include regardless of the outcome of the interdict against BDS SA:

 

1.      African National Congress Youth League  Western Cape (ANCYL WC)

2.      Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)  Polokwane

3.      Congress of South African Students (COSAS)

4.      Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu)

5.      Freedom for Palestine (PE)

6.      Kairos Southern Africa 

7.      KwaZulu Natal Palestine Solidarity Forum (KZN PSF)

8.      Muslim Juridical Council (MJC)

9.      National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL)

10.  National Coalition 4 Palestine (NC4P)

11.  Port Elizabeth Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PE PSA) 

12.  Palestine Solidarity Alliance Youth League (PSAYL) 

13.  Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) Cape Town

14.  Palestine Solidarity Forum Rustenburg

15.  Seskhona 

16.  Stellenbosch Palestine Solidarity Forum (PSF)

17.  University Cape Town Palestine Solidarity Fund (UCT PSF)

18.  University of the Witwatersrand Palestine Solidarity Committee (Wits PSC) and others…

 

 

The NC4P together with Cosatu, the ANC Youth League and various other organisations will be holding a protest outside the Woolworths Annual General Meeting calling on Woolworths shareholders, the board and chairperson to act in line with good governance and sound business principles and end trade ties with Israel. The protest will take place, Wednesday 26^th November in Cape Town from the Grand Parade to Woolworths head office, 93 Longmarket Street. Media are invited for an address at 9:30 AM outside the Woolworths head office.

 

The message is clear; the #BoycottWoolworths campaign continues and is championed by many human rights organisations. Woolworths won’t interdict us all.

 

For more information, please contact:

Dr Clint le Bruyns – 082 423 1348

Nabeweya Malick -  083 408 1157

Reverend Edwin Arrison (NC4P chairperson) - 084 735 1835