During a meeting in Randburg (South Africa) this evening, the Managing Director of Nestlé in Southern Africa, Sullivan O'Carrol, gave the South African civil rights initiative, AfriForum, its assurance that from 4 October 2009, Nestlé will no longer buy any milk from Grace Mugabe -- wife of the Zimbabwean dictator, Robert Mugabe.

This undertaking follows after AfriForum had launched an international campaign called www.nestlebloodmilk.com <http://www.nestlebloodmilk.com> yesterday, to encourage people to boycott all Nestlé products unless Nestlé were to decide before the 7^th of October 2009 to stop buying milk from Mugabe. In the light of Nestlé's undertaking, Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, undertook on behalf of AfriForum not to go ahead with the planned boycott.

Kriel welcomed Nestlé's decision and described this turn of events as a victory for justice. According to Kriel, the victory has been made possible by the fact that thousands of people from all over the world have been prepared to send letters to Nestlé via the website www.nestlebloodmilk.com <http://www.nestlebloodmilk.com> to express their dismay at Nestlé's decision to buy milk from Mugabe. "This event proves that ordinary people can use their power as consumers to ensure that justice will prevail," Kriel added. He expressed sincere gratitude towards all who supported the www.nestlebloodmilk.com <http://www.nestlebloodmilk.com> campaign.

According to Kriel, AfriForum will continue with efforts to make certain that unceasing pressure is brought to bear on the Mugabe regime to ensure that human rights violations in Zimbabwe are brought to an end.