SUZANNE BELLING
“They damaged products and fixtures inside the store and BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) leaflets and posters were left at the scene.”
Woolworths said police were investigating the matter. However, there are reports that about 21 learners, aged between 16 and 18, have been arrested and have been released into the care of their parents while awaiting a court date. The pupils were arrested by security guards, with the assistance of the metro police and were charged with theft and malicious damage to property.
According to the Pretoria News, the pupils wore black and white uniforms and held placards reading “Boycott Woolworths” and “Israel is the Devil”. Some of the pupils were said to be armed with bricks and sharp objects. Once in the store, they looted – mostly clothing, food and kitchen utensils.
Police spokesman Sergeant Anne Poortman told Rekord East, a Pretoria suburban paper, that, according to a pupil, the perpetrators were all anti-Israel activists and were against Woolworths selling Israeli products. No shots were fired, but damages are estimated at R200 000.
This is not the first incident at a Woolworths store. In December last year, four people were arrested in a Woolworths store in Claremont, Cape Town and a pig’s head was placed in a Fort Road store.
National director of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies Wendy Kahn, lays the blame squarely at the feet of BDS, plus the responsibility for other anti-Semitic incidents.
“They persist with their campaigns, including bringing out [convicted terrorist] Leila Khaled, and are involved in hate speech and other actions which lead to incidents like the one in Pretoria,” she said.
“We cannot allow this,” she said.
