Woolworths protesters arrested in Cape Town

Johannesburg - Four people were arrested during an anti-Woolworths protest in Claremont Cape Town police said on Sunday.

Lt Col Andre Traut said three men and a woman were arrested on Saturday for intimidation, trespassing and contravention of a court order.

National Coalition 4 Palestine said four members of Action Forum 4 Palestine were arrested during a non-violent protest at the Woolworths store at Cavendish Mall in Cape Town.

"From reports received, Woolworths called the SA Police Service to arrest the #BoycottWoolworths activists falsely accusing the activists of being members of the Palestine human rights organisation Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions South Africa [BDS SA] and of being in contempt of a recent BDS SA court order," said chairperson Reverend Edwin Arrison.

He said the four were not members of BDS SA.

"BDS South Africa, as an organisation, has agreed in good faith through a court order to refrain from in-store Woolworths protest actions.

"The court order, however, does not extend to other organisations and/or entities which are not a part of BDS SA."

He said there was a 24-hour vigil outside the Claremont police station in solidarity with the arrested four until their release.

The #BoycottWoolworths campaign was launched in August by the National Coalaition 4 Palestine, BDS SA, the Congress of SA Trade Unions, the ANC Youth League, and various other organisations.

It calls for the complete boycott of Woolworths until it ends its Israel trade links.

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