COSATU supports the #PharrellProtest

21 September 2015

The Congress of South African Trade Unions supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions [BDS] Campaign led by International Social Justice Activists today in Cape Town, Western Cape against Pharrell Williams due to his deliberate and un-informed decision to collaborate with Woolworths.

COSATU has continued to campaign that companies must discontinue doing business with Apartheid Israeli regime as an instrument to isolate the intransigent regime against ill-treatment meted against the people of Palestine.

COSATU agrees with BDS-South Africa that ‘International mobilisation, mass protests, global boycotts and specifically the cultural and sports boycott against the oppressive and racist Apartheid system in South Africa were used as ways to mobilise huge pressure on the Apartheid regime in the 1980s, largely accelerating our struggle towards freedom’.

And today, we cannot put wool in our eyes with injustice meted against the people of Palestine. COSATU reiterates its solidarity with the people of Palestine, who continue to suffer from political repression and apartheid from Israel.

COSATU welcomes the Western Cape High Court judgment which declared the attempts by the City of Cape Town to restrict attendance to only 150 people, invalid and unconstitutional.

Equally, COSATU condemns the act by some political parties who have visited the Middle East on a ticket of the oppressor, the Israeli regime.

COSATU also appreciate the recent decision by the United Nations to have the flag of Palestine flying high at its Headquarters.

COSATU urges workers to actively participate in the #PharrellProtest at the Main Entrance of Grand West Casino, Jakes Gerwel Drive in Parkwood, Cape Town from 16h00 as planned.

We, the South Africans are not free until the people of Palestine are free!

Statement issued by COSATU, 21 September 2015