By Philip Phi
Posted Aug 28, 2026 at 1:16 AM
In a significant demonstration of unity and support, pro-Israel church groups and activists gathered outside Cape Union Mart at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday, March 7. This rally marked a pivotal moment, as described by Pastor Thierry Mufishi of the Grace for Grace Family Church, who emphasized the event as a victory of unity and resilience among diverse communities.
The rally saw participation from over 60 individuals, including friends and supporters of Israel, various church groups, and expatriate Iranians. These participants openly expressed their support for the Israel Defense Forces, challenging allegations against Cape Union Mart and highlighting what they perceive as the evils in Iran. Their banners carried messages aimed at countering narratives they believe misrepresent Israel, focusing on truth and countering misinformation attributed to Hamas.
The pro-Israel presence consisted of four groups: members of Simunye Israel led by Pastor Thom Thamaga, Concerned Clergy of South Africa, Christians United for Africa, and activists identifying as Iranians for a Free Iran. This gathering took place against the backdrop of an ongoing dispute between Cape Union Mart and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC). Since November 2023, PSC supporters have staged regular protests outside the retailer’s stores, accusing the company’s executive chairperson, Philip Krawitz, of supporting Israel’s military. Krawitz and the company have denied these claims and have taken legal action to interdict activists from protesting and making defamatory allegations.
Participants at the rally expressed growing frustration with the ongoing demonstrations. Pastor Mufishi, drawing from his Christian faith, highlighted the spiritual significance of Israel’s existence. He expressed a conviction that without Israel, the foundation of Christian faith and understanding of God is deeply compromised. Mufishi emphasized the need for more Christians to recognize this significance, strengthening his commitment to advocate for truth, peace, and moral clarity.
The rally also included a small group of Iranian activists, reflecting the diverse coalition supporting Israel. Mufishi expressed hope for peace in Israel and, ultimately, peace throughout the world, echoing the biblical call for peace and neighbor-love as seen in Romans 12:18. This event underscores the complex interplay of faith, politics, and international relations, calling for a balanced and just approach to the issues at hand.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
