Protests outside Pharrell Williams’ South Africa gig

About 500 people protested outside a Cape Town venue where Pharrell Williams was due to perform yesterday, demonstrating against the US pop star’s promotional deal with South African retailer Woolworths and its trade ties with Israel.

The concert was scheduled to go ahead despite the protest, launched by the South African branch of the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel movement.

“By working with Woolworths, Pharrell supports Israel, a country that supports the oppression of Palestine, a country that is the new apartheid state,” said Ashraf Salie, standing amongst a crowd waving Palestinian flags at the entrance to the GrandWest Casino.