The time has come for South Africans to sincerely boycott companies who support Israel Photo SA BDS Coalition
World – The global movement to boycott companies involved in supporting the genocidal actions in Palestine has gathered significant traction. Advocates worldwide, such as the South African Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Coalition (BDS), are encouraging individuals to make mindful consumer choices and avoid patronising businesses which contribute to funding Israel’s genocide.
The BDS movement is a global campaign that aims to put economic and political pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories, ensure equal rights for Palestinians, and recognise the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
Strategic targets for South Africans to boycott
One of the major brands South Africans should be looking to target is Puma. Puma is the main international sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA). More than 200 Palestinian teams have called on Puma to terminate its sponsorship deal with the IFA. Yet, Puma hasn’t listened. While South Africans may love this brand, it is time to boycott them, said Roshan Dadoo, longstanding activist and member of the SA BDS Coalition.
“Puma is the one that I think we in South Africa should really target because I’m sure many people actually have Puma clothes. They’re so popular across South Africa, across all our demographics .. They’re very present and they’re directly complicit through their sponsorship of the Israeli soccer team.”
Another beloved franchise South Africans must target is McDonald’s. The fast food chain has been criticised for providing free food to the Israeli occupation forces during the war. While the brand is massive and very much loved by many, their actions in aiding those committing war crimes and slaughtering innocents can not go unanswered. EFF leader, Julius Malema has also called on South Africans to boycott the fast food chain. Since the calls for boycott started, McDonald’s stocks slipped by -0.43%, reaching a value of $257.00.
Cape Union Mart too is a company South Africans should boycott. Even though it is a South African company, its Executive Chairman and founder, Philip Krawitz, is extremely proud of contributing to Israel’s genocidal efforts.
“In 2015 he won an award for giving the most amount of money to Israel in their war efforts of the 2014 onslaught on Gaza. We should demand that he stand up now and say he is not funding the genocide that’s going on now. If we buy from his shops, our money will go directly to fund the genocide. He’s involved at senior level in local Zionist organisations but also in the Jewish Agency for Israel which is the agency, since 1929, whose sole purpose is to raise money to settle Jewish people on the land, raise more money, settle more people. The ones that encourage Jewish people to move to Israel in the false belief that it is their homeland. It’s a fundamental tenet of Zionism from the very beginning. He’s a senior person on the Board of Governors.”
Other companies such as ZZ2 tomatoes should also be boycotted as they get their seedlings from an Israeli company.
“They are two direct Israeli nurseries in South Africa. The first one was in Limpopo and now they’ve opened another one in the Western Cape. It’s an Israeli company, the head office is in Apartheid Israel. Now ZZ2 Tomatoes almost have a monopoly on the seedlings and are one of their biggest contractors.”
Clover is another company the BDS movement has been boycotting since they were acquired by an Israeli group. Clover must also continue to be boycotted and Dadoo is hopeful if the boycott continues, Clover will be freed from this Israeli group.
Other companies people can boycott are HP, Nestle, Coca Cola, Starbucks, and AXA just to name a few.
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Raising awareness and taking action
Boycotting companies involved in the occupation is a tangible way for individuals to contribute to the Palestinian cause. It is crucial to raise awareness about these issues and encourage others to join the movement.People should not hesitate to picket outside of these stores in order to raise awareness of who they are funding. In this way you can educate those who visit these stores and in turn, they may educate others and thus the movement will grow.
“You’re mobilising people at the same time as putting pressure on the companies and the companies can’t stand it. They’re very worried. The South African McDonald’s has already issued a letter saying it has nothing to do with us because we’re a totally separate franchise but they are because the parent company is complicit.”
Responding to critics
Critics of the BDS movement often miss the point by focusing on other factors such as Hamas, ignoring the fact that the Palestinian people have been living under occupation, enduring forced displacement and limited access to basic necessities. The BDS movement addresses the root cause – the occupation – and calls for a peaceful resolution and justice for the Palestinian people.
“The occupying force of Israel in a completely disproportionate way is committing genocide. It’s clearly genocide. Bombing civilians throughout Gaza relentlessly. Telling people to move from the North to the South and bombing the South. Bombing them as they’re moving. There’s nowhere safe. Not allowing in any fuel. The hospitals in Gaza today said there’s nothing more they can do. They can’t operate because they don’t have fuel. The death toll is over 5 000 people, I think 60% are children.”
Boycotting companies complicit in the Israeli occupation is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a powerful form of nonviolent protest. By strategically targeting these businesses, individuals can contribute to the global movement advocating for justice, equality, and peace in Palestine. The BDS movement has released a 14 page document documenting every company which supports Israel and its genocidal war. If enough pressure is put, BDS hopes these companies will finally cut ties to Israel which will undoubtedly hurt them financially.
