Cape Union Mart Group executive chairman Philip Krawitz has attempted to downplay links to the Israeli government amid weekly protests targeting the stores since late 2023.
Weekly protests outside Cape Union Mart stores are set to continue despite court action intended to interdict and restrain pro-Palestine activists.
On Monday morning, over 100 people gathered outside the Cape Town High Court with flags of Palestine and posters depicting the starvation and genocide in Gaza.
Pro-Palestine supporters have gathered weekly outside the Cape Union Mart branch at the V&A Waterfront, as well as other branches, to protest against Krawitz’s support for Israel.
Activist organisations and representatives from political parties were also present outside of court.
Protests calling for a boycott of the retailer have taken place consistently at various Cape Union Mart stores since November 2023, following Israel’s genocidal military campaign in Gaza.
In Gaza, over 60 000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel, including 18 500 children since October 2023.
SMread: Mothers4Gaza hold silent protest against starvation and genocide in Gaza
The Cape Union Mart Group owns retail chains: Cape Union Mart, Poetry, Old Khaki and Sparks & Ellis, with over 300 stores across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.
Those who gathered outside the court were protesting what they described as ‘lawfare’ and showing support for the respondents in the case.
There are seven respondents, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), five named individuals, and a seventh listed as ‘unidentified protesters at Cape Union Mart premises’.
Krawitz sought to interdict and restrain the respondents from making assertions that Cape Union Mart or its brands are associated with Israel, or that they are funding genocide or ‘any military conflict in Gaza in any way’. He also sought to prevent claims that he is “funding genocide, the Israeli army, or the conflict in Gaza in any way”.
He also sought to interdict and restrain protesters from making claims that the applicants (Cape Union Mart and Krawitz) are killing children, complicit in the killing of children, or from publishing any defamatory statements regarding or concerning the applicants.
Krawitz is a key figure in Keren Hayesod and previously served as the Keren Hayesod South Africa chairperson.
In 2014, Keren Hayesod South Africa were actively fundraising during Israel’s Protective Edge military campaign in Gaza. In his founding affidavit, he claimed that the funds were raised for the Victims of Terror Fund and not for the Israeli government or military action.
Between July 8 and August 26, 2014, the Israeli military killed 2 251 Palestinians during its military operation, including 1 462 civilians. Among those killed were 551 children and 299 women.
SMread: Activists defy Cape Union Mart ban
The Keren Hayesod- United Israel Appeal is a global fundraising organisation for Israel, and Krawitz is listed as a member.
In 2015, he was a recipient of the Yakir Keren Hayesod Award. In 2020, Krawitz organised the chairman of Keren Hayesod’s first visit to South Africa.
The Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal focuses on “supporting Aliyah and absorption in Israel”. Aliyah is a term used to describe the migration and settlement in Israel.
He is also a board of governors member of the Jewish Agency for Israel since November 2020, which facilitates immigration to Israel and provides other forms of support to Israel.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its advisory opinion stated that Israel’s presence in Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) was unlawful and that it had an obligation to end its illegal presence in the OPT “as rapidly as possible”.
It also stated that Israel was under obligation to cease all new settlement activities immediately and to evacuate all settlers from OPT.
Krawitz is also a trustee of the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre, where a number of protests have taken place, urging the centre to acknowledge and include the genocide currently underway in Gaza.
Activist Shameemah Dollie Salie said: “Cape Union Mart and Philip Krawitz attempt at securing an interdict to frustrate the right to speech, right to freedom of expression and to protest and boycott violates constitutional rights. It is an insult to South Africans who have fought hard for the constitutional rights which we are able to utilize today without being silenced.”
She further added: “Has Philip Krawitz ever provided support in any form to Gaza has he ever condemned the atrocities being committed by the unlawful apartheid state of Israel against Palestinians?”
The court did not grant the urgent interdict (rule nisi) or the court order sought by the applicant.
Both sides, however, agreed to postpone the main hearing to February 16–17, 2026, to allow for full arguments and proper notification of any unidentified protesters.
As part of a jointly drafted and agreed upon order, which is yet to be signed by the judge, Cape Union Mart may now serve legal papers to unidentified protesters by posting notices at the stores (V&A Waterfront, Canal Walk, and Cavendish Square branches) and in the Cape Times and Die Burger.
Anyone intending to oppose the application must notify the court by September 5, 2025.
The PSC and named respondents undertook not to harass or intimidate customers, while maintaining their right to continue weekly protests as before.
Weekly protests will continue, and Krawitz and Cape Union Mart remain legitimate targets for public protests, according to a notice circulated to the public.
Legal costs are deferred and will be decided at a later stage.
Images: Pro-Palestine activists outside Cape Town High Court protest over Cape Union Mart court action intending to interdict and restrain weekly protests. [Anwar Omar]
