Cape Town, South Africa - 23 December 2023: Activists with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protested outside the Canal Walk store of the Cape Union Mart group. The call to boycott the group is as a result of its Executive Chairman, Philip Krawitz, publicly pledging his ongoing support of Israel.

Cape Union Mart is South Africa’s largest outdoor lifestyle and camping retail chain with branches throughout the country. Protests organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign have been happening outside their Canal Walk, Victoria and Alfred and Cavendish Square stores since October.

Cherie Adendorff an activist with the PSC said “This brand has been has been identified as someone who funds and supports genocide. The leadership, Philip Krawitz, CEO and owner of this establishment and its associated brands personally donates millions of rands to the IDF and is very proud about that contribution. So we believe that consumers need to be aware of their purchasing power and if you don’t want to have a part in the genocide taking place in Palestine today then don’t support Cape Union Mart and Cape Union Mart affiliated brands.”

Moeniera Peters a pro-Palestine activist attending the protest said: “The reason I am here at Cape Union Mart is to ask shoppers not to support Cape Union Mart because the owner Mr Philip Krawitz is a supporter of the genocide of Palestine.”

The have been ongoing protests in South Africa since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October resulted in retaliatory attacks by Israel which has been described as disproportionate by the United Nations and has received international condemnation.