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Even one protester at Woolworths AGM enough, says BDS SA

Cape Town – Even one demonstrator is enough to make a point, protesters demonstrating under the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel SA (BDS SA) banner told Fin24 outside of the Woolworths 2015 annual general meeting on Monday.

Unlike the huge presence of demonstrators inside and outside the Woolworths AGM last year, Monday saw only two BDS protesters outside the Woolworths head office in Cape Town where the meeting took place.

The two protesters, Abdur-razak Johnstone and Abdul Cader, cut lonely figures as they waved their Palestinian flags outside the building.

Johnstone and Cader were protesting against what they described as “Woolworths’ continued trade with Apartheid-Israel”.

Cader told Fin24 that even if only one BDS protester turned up, that would be enough to make an impact.

Johnstone told Fin24 only two BDS shareholder activists gained access to the meeting and were set to field a list of thirty-one questions to the Woolworths executive.

The activists bought single shares in Woolworths Holdings Limited, but according to community radio station Voice of the Cape several long-time shareholders with investments over R1m each also donated their proxies to enable other activists to attend the AGM.

The questions covered issues ranging from brand damage from the #BoycottWoolworths campaign, corporate governance and its relation to trade with Israel, and ethical policy.

“Their idea is to ask them why they are still trading with Israel,” Johnstone said.

In earlier reports on the BDS campaign Woolworths told Fin24 that less than 0.1% of its food was sourced from the Middle East.

Woolworths said it only sourced food from abroad when local products were out of season or where local or regional supplier partners were unable to provide the ideal quality, value and innovation that its customers expected.

According to Johnstone Woolworths should “do away with the 0.1%” because it was jeopardising the other “99.9%” of the business.

He said the BDS hoped that the campaign on Monday would give them “a foot in the door”.

“I can’t say that we will win the battle today ... if we look at the fight against apartheid, it may take years,” he said.

Woolworths reiterated on Monday that it does not source any products from the occupied territories. "Woolworths has no political affiliations and is guided by the South African government and the dti’s guidelines,” the retailer said in an emailed response.

BDS SA questions submitted


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