Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-10-08

Jewish anti-apartheid struggle stalwart and Rivonia Trialist Denis Goldberg has lent his endorsement to the #BoycottWoolworths campaign.

Goldberg joins other well-known figures in the country who have publicly backed the growing #BoycottWoolworths campaign which include Blade Nzimande the Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela the Deputy Minister in the South African Presidency, Enver Surty the Deputy Minister of Department of Basic Education, Ronnie Kasrils former Minister of Intelligence and anti-apartheid activist amongst others.

BDS South Africa, the National Coalition 4 Palestine, COSATU, SACP, YCL, ANC Youth League and various other organizations have called for a boycott of Woolworths until it ends its R12 million trade relations with Israel.

Goldeberg told Radio Islam that he supports the #BoycottWoolworths Campaign because he believes in human rights.

“As a white South African I had to take responsibility that being not just apathetic but consciously opposing apartheid and the consequences for me and my comrades.”

“Equally with the name Goldberg, you will understand even though I am secular in my attitudes, Jews and gentile’s claim me as a Jew because of my descent and I feel therefore I have a responsibility for the rights of people oppressed by Jews, and the Palestinians are oppressed by Jews,” said Goldberg.

Goldberg justified the targeting of Woolworths saying: “It should be easy for Woolworths to respond in a humane way. [Israeli trade] is a small part of their trade therefore one can argue it’s easy for them to stop because the amount of profit is negligible.”

“I would really like the managers of Woolworths not to threaten the boycotters who take a trolley to block an aisle, but would like to see them go and talk to the other bigger traders and say ‘join us in he dropping trade with Israel until Palestinians have their rights. That would be such a contribution to transformation,” said Goldberg.

Goldberg also expressed his views on the SA Jewish board of Deputies and Zionsists in South Africa.

“What I would say to Zionists South Africans is that you enjoy the rights and privileges of equal rights for all while you deny equal rights to others and you hide behind your religious fundemantalism. And religious fundamentalism whether it’s Jewish, Islamic, Christian as in Northern Ireland or wherever means a denial of democracy.”

“I believe in democracy and I want to see it upheld and I would like to see all fellow Jewish South Africans uphold democracy everywhere and stop being selective about it just as I’ve stopped being selective,” added Goldberg.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)