Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-10-25

At least 57 people who protested in a Woolworths store in Killarney Mall were arrested on Saturday.

The protesters, led by rights group Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) are calling for the retailer to stop importing products from Israel.

The police’s Constable Thabo Malatji said the group was charged with public disturbance. “They went to Woolies and started disturbing customers inside the shop.”

Tasneem Essop from BDS who organised the protest, said some of those arrested were minors.

“It is completely ridiculous and it goes against the values we wish to uphold,” said Essop.

She said the protest was completely peaceful and demonstrators had simply walked into the shop and lay on the ground with their placards.

Essop explained that the activists were not arrested inside Woolworths but were already outside of the mall doors when they were approached by police.

Woolworths said the safety of its customers and employees was its “highest priority”.

“We have no choice but to contact the local authorities when the safety of our customers and employees is threatened,” Woolworths said in a statement.

“The police monitored the protests today and took action when they felt protestors violated the law.”

“Woolworths did not arrest any protestors nor lay any charges.”

A group of people have gathered at Hilbrow Police station calling for the protesters to be released.

Yesterday a Congress of South African Students (Cosas) member placed the head of a pig in the kosher meat section of a Woolworths in Cape Town.

BDS has since distanced itself from the pig head found at Woolworths.

In a statement the group said the latest actions of young people placing pig heads at various Woolworths stores – although aimed at increasing pressure on Woolworths – are not supported, endorsed or encouraged by Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) South Africa.

“We believe that the methods used, namely placing pigs heads in South African Woolworths stores, are very controversial and may not have been properly thought through.

“It may be argued that the placing of pig heads is a form of militant human rights action however there is a great amount of sensitivity surrounding Halaal and Kosher food.”

The pig heads have now effectively made various Woolworths Stores a complete no-go zone for those that buy Kosher or Halaal as those areas are now contaminated,” said BDS.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)