As many as 20 South African companies, including manufacturers and chain stores, have ended their security contracts with G4S in protest at the company’s links to Israeli prisons and detention centres. The news was announced by the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Speaking at a meeting at the Embassy of Palestine in Pretoria on Thursday, a spokesperson for the BDS movement said that the move comes as the Palestinians are commemorating Prisoner Day and Israel escalates its crimes against prisoners and detainees in its jails. The spokesperson pointed out that G4S has ignored repeated calls to stop providing Israeli prisons with security technology and services.
The movement applauded South African solidarity committees and their peaceful efforts which led to this achievement and has caused the British security company to lose nearly 7 million Rands a year. The Bill Gates Foundation ended a $200 million contract with G4S in June last year following pressure from South African solidarity committees.
Renowned former political prisoner Ahmad Kathrada welcomed the South African companies’ decision and called for the expansion of the international solidarity campaign to help release Palestinian prisoners, including women and children.
The Embassy of Palestine in Pretoria described the move as an “important message” which the Israeli occupation must consider very carefully and learn from South Africans’ experience and history. A joint appeal between the embassy, the Ahmad Kathrada Foundation and the BDS movement will be launched to commemorate Palestinian Prisoner Day.