Boycott Woolworths campaign continues
NORTHCLIFF- SACP branches picket against Woolworths stores in Northcliff and Woolworths says they are guided by the South African government to purchase produce from the Middle East.
After launching a picket against Woolworths in Cresta Mall on 6 September , the South African Communist Party (SACP) Northcliff Esther Barsel and SACP Robinhills Primary VD branches led another picket against Woolworths Foods store in Mountainview Shopping Centre on 20 September.
These pickets are aimed at pressuring Woolworths to stop importing agricultural products from Israel. According to the Human Rights Organisation, almost all Israeli agricultural companies have illegal operations in Occupied Palestinian Territories.
During the picket on 20 September, the two SACP branches presented the Woolworths management with a memorandum, demanding that Woolworths must:
nCut all its trade relations with Apartheid Israeli companies.
nFind suppliers of agricultural products somewhere else, with priority being given to South African agricultural companies.
nProvide BDS South Africa and organisers of Boycott Woolworths Campaign with information about Israeli agricultural companies that Woolworths is buying products from.
nHave a meeting with BDS South Africa and organisers of Boycott Woolworths Campaign as these two organisations have been requesting.
In their memorandum, the two SACP branches vowed to continue picketing against Woolworths stores in and around Northcliff until Woolworths’ management “come to their senses”.
In response to this picket, Woolworths says they are guided by the South African Government.
“We know that the current conflict in the Middle East has affected many of our customers and our employees. We have heard many views expressed via our social media channels, emails and phone calls,” says a Woolworths representative.
“Woolworths abhors violence and loss of life, particularly of children, in any circumstance and we are deeply saddened by the tragic consequences of the ongoing conflict in Gaza,” she adds.
Woolworths also clarified that they do not source produce from occupied territories.
“All our suppliers are expected to adhere to the ethical standards in our code of conduct. As a South African company, we cater for a wide range of customers in our stores and try hard to acknowledge and celebrate the various beliefs and traditions of each group,” says the multi-million dollar company representative.
“We have no political affiliations and respect our customers’ right to make individual purchasing choices, which is why we clearly label every product’s country of origin. We fully comply with government guidelines on products from Israel. Less than 0.1 per cent of our food is sourced from Israel,” concludes the representative.
This comes after Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande expressed his opinion at a panel discussion hosted by the University of Johannesburg.
“We want to assure you that the South African Communist Party (SACP) will join and mobilise in boycotting Woolworths and other such stores selling Israeli goods,” said Nzimande.
According to the SAPC, Arthur Lenk, the Israeli ambassador in South Africa, posted on his Facebook page that Woolworths was importing pretzels, couscous, matzos, coriander, figs, litchis, plums and mangoes from Israel.
