Boycott protesters quiz top Woolies’ executives

WOOLWORTHS’ annual general meeting yesterday made jeering witnessed in parliament look like child’s play. Accusations of cellphone bugging, media gagging and trade with Israel dominated after National Coalition 4 Palestine and activists bought single shares in the retail giant to attend the meeting at Woolworth’s Cape Town head office. Board chairman Simon Susman and group chief executive Ian Moir fielded many questions amid deafening heckling.

Hussein Adams claimed that he had information that Woolworths tapped activists’ cellphones to monitor them. “I would suggest that if you know that Woolworths is tapping phones please do let us know because that will be inappropriate,” Susman said. Young Communist League member Braam Hanekom then claimed that certain media houses had been openly threatened by Woolworths over advertising contracts because of reports they had carried on anti-company activities and groups supporting these. Moir said he was not aware of such intimidation and would “act if that is the case”.