Genocide supporter, baby killer lies exposed in SA court
Protesters aligned with South African pro-Palestine groups have been regularly and aggressively demonstrating outside the Cape Town and Johannesburg premises of The Cape Union Mart (CMart) a nationwide retail business. It is a household name selling outdoor apparel. It was established in 1933 by the grandfather of the present executive chairman Mr. Philip Krawitz. He is a respected and admired businessman and philanthropist, recognized for his distinguished service in support of humanitarian work in Israel and South Africa.
On 23 November 2023 a clear press release was made that neither CMart nor Mr Krawitz in his personal capacity has ever donated funds to the Israeli army or any other army:
“Mr. Krawitz is a philanthropist who supports purely humanitarian projects in South Africa and Israel, in his personal capacity. He has made contributions to poverty alleviation, peace and reconciliation projects for several years, as is his constitutional right.”
Despite unequivocally setting the record straight, the protesters continued unlawfully publicly harassing and defaming CMart and Mr. Krawitz: Planned, persistent and malevolent. These are not actions of principled and upright defenders of liberty or rights.
CMart and Mr. Krawitz sought an interdict as a last resort, restraining the protesters from making defamatory statements to the effect that they supported genocide in Gaza and were baby killers as well as from interfering with the business of the stores.
A full bench of the High Court, Cape Town (three judges) in a decision handed down on 4 September 2026 unanimously interdicted and restrained the protesters from defamatory statements supporting and funding genocide. The protesters were prohibited from preventing access by customers to Kmart stores. The order also compelled the protesters to comply with the law regulating gatherings (mentioned below).
This court case has exposed the gross, breathtaking lies and degrading insults that persons professing love for human rights and freedom of Palestinians are prepared to use. This is beside the threatening and unlawful conduct of the protesters in harming the business interests of KMart . Let’s consider some of them.
According to the Founding Affidavit of Mr Krawitz:
On 18 November 2023, protests were held at CMart’s stores in Rosebank, Johannesburg, the V&A Waterfront, and Canal Walk shopping centres in Cape Town. The police had to intervene at the V&A Waterfront as approximately 18 protestors were screaming at clients of Cape Union Mart. They also used a megaphone to chant –
“Philip, Philip, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!”;
and
“If you shop inside, we charge you with genocide”.
On 2 December 2023 at the V&A store, Cape Town a group of approximately 20 protestors gathered in contravention of the procedures prescribed in the Regulation of Gatherings Act for gatherings involving more than 15 persons. CMart was entitled to prior notification but received none. This unlawful procedure was repeated with subsequent gatherings. Posters were displayed by the protesters stating :
“Cape Union Mart supports the genocide in Gaza”
and a banner stating –
“Krawitz Way K-Way Killer Way”.
Images were posted on the Instagram account of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign Cape Town, a party cited as a respondent in the interdict case.
It bears mentioning that on 9 December 2023 at a protest at the Canal Walk CMart store, Ms Mahmouda Ockerds, a lead protester and first respondent, was present wearing a mask. This is also a violation of the Regulation of Gatherings Act which prohibits protesters wearing a disguise or mask or any other apparel or item which obscures facial features and prevents identification.
A protester held a poster containing a picture of Mr Krawitz and his wife –
“PHILIP KRAWITZ, GENOCIDE FUNDER.”
Other unidentified protesters carried posters depicting the Nazi swastika superimposed on an Israeli flag and a poster stating –
“Boycott Cape Union Mart: They fund genocide.”
On 9 March 2024 the first respondent intimated on a poster that Cape Union Mart belongs to “the synagogue of Satan”. An attempt to demonize Jews in general and Mr Krawitz. On 13 April 2024, protesters held up a poster at the V&A store reading –
“Philip J. Krawitz (owner) supports & funds occupation, colonisation, genocide, forced Starvation. YOU’RE SUPPORTING GENOCIDE”.
The poster bore the Star of David, being a religious symbol associated with Judaism, alongside a swastika, a hated symbol.
The court had no difficulty in making the finding that there was no evidence at all supporting the claims made by the protesters other than unproven hearsay from the internet. The protesters were simply and utterly discredited.
Any person with a modicum of conscience and decency would be shamed and disgraced by such a devastating ruling against their entire course of protests. Not so. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign lost no time in responding that its boycott campaign will continue despite the court interdict. This is the moment of truth. When lies fail, the true motive is revealed: targeting a Jew and a Jewish owned business is still fair game. Hatred, disregard for the law of protest gatherings and personal attacks of a prominent and respected businessman were in fully display but no contrition was shown even after the court’s clear decision.
Something deeper is at stake. It is not simply disrespect for the rule of law dressed up as freedom of expression and speech. It should be obvious to any reasonable and peaceful person that the freedom of Palestinians is not uppermost in the objectives of the protesters. Individual liberty and the rule of law are not protected by the political leaders in Judea/Samaria or Gaza which are characterized by corruption and repression. There has not been a single Israeli resident in Gaza since 2005, instead Hamas has exercised brutal control on Gazans. No freedom of speech or expression is tolerated there. Journalists and critics of Hamas are violated and suppressed. Children are indoctrinated for hate of Israel and violence in UNRWA schools instead of being educated for freedom and prosperity.
The protesters pay lip service to freedom and abuse the fundamental rights afforded to them by the South African Constitution. They are intent on fomenting anti-Jewish hatred in South African society and undermining support for Israel by the vast majority of South Africans, Jews and non-Jews alike.
