Above is a short two minute SABC TV News video clip from the recent Woolworths shareholder press conference where various shareholders backed the #BoycottWoolworths campaign calling for a termination of relations with Israel. Click here to watch on YouTube.

A group of black businessmen who own shares in Woolworths have expressed concern over the "irresponsible manner" in which the management of Woolworths are handling the #BoycottWoolworths campaign. They said in a statement: "The management of Woolworths should have met with the activists advancing this campaign...meeting and trying to resolve this issue should have been the first step. [Woolworths] going to court...should have been the last option. Click here to read their full statement.

Stellenbosch-based author and writer Marthie Momberg who owns shares in Woolworths has also backed the #BoycottWoolworths campaign. Momberg has penned a letter to the CEO of Woolworths saying: "As an investor in Woolworths I am compelled to reveal my concern about the image and the ethics of the company in which I invested a considerable amount of my savings...the real issue is not the number of Israeli products on the shelves of Woolworths, but rather the existence of [trade] contracts between Woolworths and Israeli businesses. Israel is well known for its continued, systemic violations of human rights...Peaceful, economic resistance against Israel is by no means a protest against Jews, but against a systemic regime of oppression. The boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign (BDS) is part of an international strategy similar to the one which helped to end South African apartheid. Major businesses and churches, across the globe have already implemented BDS. They did so not because they are politically driven, but for ethical reasons". Click here for an audio interview with Marthie Momberg.

SHAREHOLDERS WARN WOOLWORTHS OVER TRADE WITH ISRAEL AHEAD OF 26 NOVEMBER AGM

Yesterday at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton a group of Woolworths shareholders announced their support for the #BoycottWoolworths campaign.

 

A group of black businessmen (see alongside), Alan Horwitz representing a group of Jewish shareholders (picture above) and a Stellenbosch author and writer (see alongside) were amongst those who announced their backing of the growing consumer boycott campaign calling on Woolworths to terminate its Israeli relations. Click here for more information on the recent Woolworths shareholder press conference.

Early in August 2014 (in line with the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel movement) a call for the complete boycott of the South African retailer Woolworths until it ends its Israeli trade links was made by the NC4P, BDS South Africa, COSATU, ANC Youth League, MJC, EFF, PSC and various others. The #BoycottWoolworths campaign (as it has been dubbed) has received wide spread attention and support from various South African Government Ministers, artists, well known personalities and anti-apartheid stalwarts. To date, the management of Woolworths (that recently bought over the David Jones' chain in Australia) has refused to meet face to face with campaigners so that this issue may be resolved.