Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
26 June 2025 | 13:20 CAT
3 min read

The recent legal action taken by Cape Union Mart against the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has raised serious concerns about shrinking civic space and the misuse of corporate power to suppress dissent. The company is seeking an interdict against PSC Cape Town’s protest actions, which it claims are defamatory and damaging to its business. Activists, however, see it as a classic example of a SLAPP suit – a legal tactic used to silence critical voices.

Martin Jansen, an executive member of the PSC Cape Town, said that the boycott campaign was launched in response to Cape Union Mart owner Philip Krawitz’s open support for Israel and Zionist causes. “We have known for quite a long time that Mr Philip Krawitz has been a very strong supporter of Zionism and the state of Israel to the extent that he has contributed substantial amounts of money to various Israeli Zionist causes over many years,” Jansen said.

Jansen pointed out that Krawitz received an award for his grand support. “He, in fact, got awarded for that, acknowledged by the Israeli government. It was a major public event in Israel. And as you would know, there are pictures of him with none other than Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Krawitz’s wife together,” he added.

According to Jansen, the PSC launched the boycott campaign after Krawitz publicly called for support of Israel following the events of October 2023. “There was a meeting that he spoke at in Cape Town, where he expressed his kind of horror and abhorrence of what Hamas was alleged to have done on that day, and also called on the Jewish community to support the Israeli cause against what he referred to as ‘terrorism’,” he explained.

Jansen believes the legal action against PSC is part of a broader international trend to suppress pro-Palestinian voices. “This is a pattern that has been happening internationally, and we are fairly convinced that this is a global campaign by the Israeli regime. It is not a singular effort on the part of Cape Union Mart and Mr Krawitz,” he said.

He described SLAPP suits as “a form of what we could call lawfare, often used by big corporations” to drain resources from campaigners and silence opposition. “It is just to bog organisations and campaigners down. If you have to spend more time attending to your legal defence, you will not have much time dealing with your campaign work. It is very expensive, and these people have endless amounts of money. It is a way to repress you,” he said.

With the Constitutional Court having recognised SLAPP suits as a form of legal abuse, the outcome of the Cape Union Mart case could set a precedent for activism in South Africa. “If Cape Union Mart is successful, then it means that our protest action and all our messaging that we are sending out to the public have to be stopped. That will be a huge setback for the Palestine solidarity movement, but also a major setback for protest action in our country. Others like Cape Union Mart may use this in future,” Jansen warned.

Despite the pressure, PSC is continuing its work, focusing on holding the government accountable for what it sees as inaction in support of Palestinians. This includes pushing for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions, and taking the National Prosecuting Authority to court over South Africans serving in the Israeli military.

Jansen remains hopeful. “I am very confident that they will not succeed in getting that interdict. We will act with all our might, legally and otherwise, against it,” he said.

He noted that if the PSC wins the case, it could set a powerful precedent for protest rights in South Africa and beyond. “If we are successful in defending ourselves, this will be a blow to Zionism, a blow directly against Cape Union Mart… and set a very, very positive precedent for our right to protest in South Africa and even to a large extent internationally,” he said.

Jansen emphasised that PSC’s protest actions have always been lawful and peaceful, and he is confident they will successfully defend themselves against Cape Union Mart’s legal bid. “We’ve studied the papers. We know what we are doing. We’ve never been violent. I’m very confident that they will not succeed in getting that interdict. We will act with all our might, legally and otherwise, against it,” he said.

The case is expected to be closely watched by activists and legal observers, as its implications stretch beyond Palestine solidarity and into the heart of democratic participation in South Africa.

LISTEN to the full interview with Muallimah Annisa Essack and Martin Jansen, Exec Member of PSC Cape Town, here.