Latest news with #CapeUnionMart
IOL News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Put on your socks, change a life - Smile Foundation launches Socks For Smiles Campaign
The Smile Foundation has launched its boldest and brightest campaign yet, Socks for Smiles, an initiative aimed at raising R2.5 million to fund 100 life-changing reconstructive surgeries for children across South Africa. With the purchase of a R20 Socks for Smiles sticker, South Africans are encouraged to step out in their funkiest, brightest, and most joyful socks on 19 September, whether at school, at work, or out in their community. Every sticker bought is a step closer to helping a child smile again. Smile Foundation is excited to share the launch of our boldest and brightest initiative yet, Socks for Smiles. The campaign is made possible with the generous support of Dis-Chem, Cape Union Mart, and Baby City, where the public can purchase their stickers in-store nationwide. Stickers are also available online at Beyond retail support, Smile Foundation is thrilled to be joined by an incredible group of ambassadors who are stepping up and socking up for a cause that brings hope and healing to young lives. Lending their star power to the campaign are beloved South African personalities and performers including Swing City, The Muses, Lady Zamar, Gugulethu Nyatsumba, DJ Milkshake, Zoalize Jansen van Rensburg, John Vlismas, Themba Robin, and Toniquinne Becker. These ambassadors will be sharing their messages of support across social media and media platforms, encouraging the public to wear their socks with purpose and proudly support the campaign. 'We wanted to create something that's fun, simple, and accessible but still powerful in its purpose,' said Loyiso Bala, Smile Foundation ambassador and campaign advocate. 'Socks for Smiles is a reminder that even the smallest act can have a life-changing Impact. It's more than a fundraiser. It's a movement. It's about showing up, standing together, and helping children step into their futures with confidence,' added Zoalize Jansen vanRensburg, Smile Foundation ambassador and Miss World South Africa. Smile Foundation is calling on schools, corporates, universities, and everyday South Africans to join in. Group sales are available, and the Foundation encourages companies to get their teams involved or even sponsor sticker packs for schools in under-resourced areas. 'We are so grateful to every single person playing a role in this campaign,' says Moira Gerszt, Acting CEO of Smile Foundation. 'To our incredible retail partners Dis-Chem, Cape Union Mart and Baby City, our inspiring ambassadors, the schools and corporates taking part, and everyday South Africans who are proudly wearing their socks to support our cause: thank you for walking this journey with us. Together, we are changing more lives.' Whether you're walking into a boardroom, a classroom, or your favourite café on 19 September, let your socks do the talking and help change a child's life. To get involved, purchase your sticker, or learn more about the campaign, visit or follow @smilefoundationsa on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
The Citizen
14-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Join Socks for Smiles and help change a child's life
Join Socks for Smiles and help change a child's life Smile Foundation has launched its bold Socks for Smiles campaign, aiming to raise R2.5 million to fund 100 life-changing reconstructive surgeries for children across South Africa. South Africans are encouraged to wear their brightest socks on 19 September and buy a R20 Socks for Smiles sticker at Dis-Chem, Cape Union Mart, Baby City stores nationwide, or online. 'We wanted to create something that's fun, simple, and accessible but still powerful in its purpose,' said ambassador Loyiso Bala. 'Socks for Smiles is a reminder that even the smallest act can have a life-changing impact.' Joining the campaign are well-known personalities, including Lady Zamar, DJ Milkshake, John Vlismas, Themba Robin, and Miss World South Africa Zoalize Jansen van Rensburg, who said: 'It's more than a fundraiser. It's a movement. It's about showing up, standing together, and helping children step into their futures with confidence.' Acting CEO Moira Gerszt thanked all partners and participants: 'Together, we are changing more lives.' For more details or to get involved, visit the Smile Foundation's website or follow @smilefoundationsa on social media.
Eyewitness News
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Palestine Solidarity Campaign to protest outside court against Cape Union Mart
CAPE TOWN - The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) is set to protest outside the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday against retail store Cape Union Mart. The PSC claims Cape Union Mart is allegedly funding the Israeli army and is complicit in the Gaza conflict. Cape Union Mart has since filed for an interdict seeking to restrain the PSC from harassing its customers and staff. The company has denied the allegations, stating they have never donated funds to the Israeli army or government. PSC co-ordinator, Usuf Chikte, said the protests were a legitimate exercise of free speech and were not intended to harass or intimidate. "This legal attack is a blatant act of Zionist lawfare and an attempt to bully us and silence those who dare to protest genocide and apartheid."
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
'Bullying Tactics': Cape Town Ulama board blasts retailer over Palestine protest court bid
A previous procession of more than 40 motor vehicles that held a motorcade demonstration, drove through Beach Road in Sea Point, with passengers waving Palestinian flags and shouting 'free free Palestine'. The Cape Town Ulama Board (CTUB) has strongly condemned the acts of Cape Union Mart, calling it bullying tactics after it approached the Western Cape High Court to seek an interdict restraining the local organisation Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) from labelling them as supporting genocide. The CTUB is a body of erudite Sunni Scholars, professionals, and religious leaders. It is a representative body comprising various imams of mosques, Muftis, and teachers of madrasas. Members also include certified professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and educators. One of its members, Shaykh Sayed Ridhwaan Mohamed, is one of seven respondents named in the application. 'It is disheartening to see a corporation resort to legal threats and intimidation as a means to hinder peaceful protests and suppress the voices of those speaking out against human rights violations. This behaviour only underscores the urgent need to stand against corporate bullying and show solidarity with activists fighting for justice globally,' it said. The CTUB called on Cape Union Mart to reconsider their actions and engage in constructive dialogue with protesters outside their stores.
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Union Mart hauls pro-Palestine activists to court
The retailer said it has never donated any funds to the army of Israel. Image: Supplied THE Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has described Cape Union Mart's court application against it as an attempt to gag activists engaged in peaceful protest The international retailer has turned to the Western Cape High Court for an interdict restraining PSC from labelling them as supporting genocide, saying ongoing protests and boycott campaign at its stores have led to financial losses and reputational damage. The application filed last week urges the five activists from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign to stop making claims that the retailer and its associated brands "fund genocide, killing children, or are complicit in the killing of children." A previous procession of more than 40 motor vehicles that held a motorcade demonstration, drove through Beach Road in Sea Point, with passengers waving Palestinian flags and shouting 'free free Palestine'. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Respondents include Magmuda Ockards, Muhammad Shafiq Gamiet, Mohamed Zaid Jeenah, Sherazaad Rahima Sylvester, and Sayed Ridhwaan Mohamed. The sixth respondent is unidentified protesters, and the seventh respondent is the PSC. In response to IOL's inquiry, Cape Union Mart's legal advisor, Simone Sulcas said said the application was brought as a last resort after previous efforts to communicate the correct facts to protesters failed. 'This follows ongoing protest action that has been underway since November 2023, which falsely claims that Cape Union Mart is 'funding genocide', the Israeli army, the conflict in Gaza, and even advancing claims of complicity in the killing of children.' 'Cape Union Mart, together with its Executive Chairman, Philip Krawitz, categorically state that they have never donated funds to the Israeli army or Israeli government. More specifically, Cape Union Mart has never donated funds to any entities outside of South Africa, and its Executive Chairman has only donated funds for humanitarian purposes,' Sulcas said. Protesters calling for an end to genocide in Gaza. Image: File She said her client does not seek an order preventing the protestors from expressing themselves. 'Cape Union Mart fully respects and upholds the rule of law that governs all South Africans, which includes freedom of expression and the right to protest. However, this must be done without the continued spreading of defamatory falsehoods and with due regard to the rights of Cape Union Mart's customers and the general public not to be harassed. A hearing date is yet to be set,' Sulcas said. PSC member Usuf Chikte said the court action was an attempt was intended to intimidate and silence the campaign for justice, peace, freedom, and equality for Palestinians and represents a textbook SLAPP suit (a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) designed to suppress critical, peaceful voices through legal intimidation. 'PSC and other parties will be meeting urgently to discuss their response and pass a formal resolution on whether to defend against the application, which it views as a direct threat to constitutional rights, including our freedom of expression and freedom of association. "This case arises amid increased public scrutiny of corporations and Cape Union Mart's silence and alleged complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza and follows growing calls by human rights organisations for corporate accountability and economic boycott of companies seen to be enabling Israeli apartheid,' Chikte said. The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) said it supported the constitutional and internationally recognised right to a peaceful protest.
