South African labor unions will "close South African ports to ships bearing goods from 'apartheid Israel' "

"Cosatu targets Israel"


February 04 2009 at 12:08PM

On the Independent Online (South Africa), at:

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20090204113642971C599582



By Heinz de Boer

Trade union giant Cosatu has vowed to close South African ports to ships bearing goods from "apartheid Israel" - starting with a refusal to offload a vessel which will be docking in Durban on Sunday....

...In a joint statement by Cosatu, the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Young Communist League, they said: "This follows the decision by Cosatu to strengthen the campaign in South Africa for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against apartheid Israel."

They announced a series of protests starting tomorrow in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Benoni.

Several members of parliament, senior union leaders and former intelligence minister, Ronnie Kasrils, are expected to take part at these events. Protesters are expected near the harbour on Margaret Mncadi Avenue (Victoria Embankment) on Sunday at 10am.

Cosatu said Western Australian unionists had last week also decided to refuse to handle Israeli goods in a campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel.

The joint statement also recalled how dock workers had successfully boycotted South African goods in the apartheid years.

"We call on other workers and unions to follow suit and to do all that is necessary to ensure that they boycott all goods to and from Israel until Palestine is free...."


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