South Africa: Dock workers refuse to unload Israeli ship following Palestinian trade unions’ call for solidarity, highlighting parallels with apartheid
“South African dockworkers refuse to unload Israeli ship in solidarity with Palestinians”, 20 May 2021
The South African BDS Coalition told Middle East Eye that dockworkers belonging to the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) would not off-load the cargo from the Israeli vessel following a call from the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions.
They will also demand that the South African government-owned Transnet port company stop goods travelling to or from Israel through South African ports.
"We do not want Israeli ships or goods in South African ports and shops," Roshan Dadoo, a member of the South African BDS Coalition, told MEE.
"We salute our dockworkers and will continue to work in struggle with them to ensure that South Africa becomes an 'apartheid free zone'."
Dadoo said the coalition hopes that the South African government "takes their lead from the dock workers and immediately cuts all ties - trade, diplomatic, cultural, academic and sport - with the oppressive Israeli regime".