Retail giant Pick n Pay has reinstated the Star of David display in its Norwood, Johannesburg, branch following backlash over its removal earlier this month.
The symbol, hung ahead of the Jewish holiday of Pesach (Passover), was initially taken down after criticism from pro-Palestine groups who viewed the display as political.
The BDS Movement, the Palestine Solidarity Alliance, and South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP) staged a protest inside the Norwood store on 11 April.
They objected to the inclusion of what they called "Israeli imagery," specifically a national flag and the Star of David, and demanded their removal.
In a statement to The Citizen, Pick n Pay clarified that while ribbons associated with the display were removed due to the misinterpretation of their intent, the Star of David itself — a longstanding symbol of Judaism — remained part of the official Pesach decorations and has since been reinstalled.
“Our Norwood Hyper store, ahead of Pesach, independently put ribbons on the ceiling to celebrate in the spirit of celebration for Judaism. Unfortunately, these were open to misinterpretation regarding their intent and were removed,” the retailer explained.
“At no point was offence ever intended to our customers. Inclusivity is at the heart of Pick n Pay – we employ all, serve all, love all, and respect all,” it added. The move to temporarily remove the symbol prompted criticism from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), which called the action “hurtful” and “completely unacceptable.
” We have conveyed to Pick n Pay our profound sense of hurt and outrage over this incident, and how we find it completely unacceptable that the universally recognised symbol of our Jewish faith and heritage should be banned from public spaces in this way,” the SAJBD said in a statement.
Pick n Pay emphasised its longstanding commitment to inclusivity and respect for all cultural and religious groups. “We celebrate all significant cultural and religious holidays observed by our diverse customer base. We recently extended our well wishes for Ramadan and Pesach, and this week we will celebrate Easter with our customers.”
The incident has highlighted tensions between religious expression and political symbolism, sparking wider debate around the place of faith-based imagery in commercial spaces during a time of heightened sensitivity over the Israel-Palestine conflict.