Hundreds Protest Pharrell Concert in South Africa

The coach who is popular on “The Voice” is drawing the ire of protesters against the singer’s partnership with major South African retail group Woolworths.

So what is the issue with Pharrell William’s business relationship with Woolworths?

Creating quite a stir with his latest decision to work with Woolworths has brought out the masses to his concerts, but for all the wrong reasons.

Pro-Palestinian protesters at Woolworths’ Pharrell Williams concert have warned other retailers against trading with Israel.

On Friday, the group won a court battle against an attempt by Cape Town authorities to limit the number of demonstrators to 150.

The ANC has pledged its support for the BDS campaign and protest.

Judge Siraj Desai ruled that the protest could include up to 16,000 people, public broadcaster SABC reported.

“We have a duty as South Africans to abide by our constitution, to heed our obligations under worldwide law, and our stated foreign policy which is specific about the kind of trade partners we seek, so we expect anyone who loves our country and what it stands for, as Williams does, not to endorse or support, directly or indirectly, the companies that are directly linked to settlements, checkpoints and the “separation wall” in the occupied Palestinian territories as these are all deemed illegal under global law”.

“It is in recognition of the militant and courageous internationalism of the 1980s that we take to the streets today in what will be a historic gathering – expected to be the largest protest event in South African history against any musician or artist”, BDS said on Monday.

BDS South Africa is promising that Pharrell Williams will encounter “the largest protest any artist would have faced since the end of Apartheid”.

In an earlier statement, BDS said Williams had also breached an worldwide cultural boycott by scheduling a performance soon to be held in Israel.