Retail chain, Cape Union Mart, has filed an interdict application against pro-Palestine demonstrators. In court papers seen by Radio 786, the company and its chairman, Philip Krawitz, say that the weekly demonstrations outside Cape Union Mart and the boycott campaign have caused them reputational harm and economic losses.

The applicants are asking the Western Cape High Court to interdict and restrain the five named activists in the papers and unidentified protesters from allegedly “harassing” and “intimidating” customers.

The court is also being asked to stop activists from, among others, making any claims that Krawitz or the company, are associated with the Israeli entity or funding the genocide in Gaza.

Activists opposed to oppression and genocide have dedicated their weekends to picketing outside of Cape Union stores, educating passers-by about the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and about individuals in South Africa who are supporting this land theft.

Krawitz has openly expressed his support for the Israeli entity, which has been carrying out a 22-month-long genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. While he has dismissed claims that he funds the Israeli Occupation Forces, he has admitted that he wishes he could support the Zionist entity more.