More than 6 000 clients who claim they have been racially or otherwise discriminated against by SA banks have come together in a class-action suit against the banks, says a Cape Argus report.

Represented by Johannesburg law firm Gardee Godrich Attorneys, the clients will apply to intervene in proceedings instituted by Sekunjalo Group executive chairman Dr Iqbal Survé and 42 others at the Western Cape Equality Court.

Attorney Godrich Gardee said his clients would have brought their own case independently, but that the Sekunjalo matter had acted as a trigger to spur them on.

‘The conduct of these institutions goes against the provisions of the Constitution, the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act and the Promotion of Equality & Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, and the public has long been defenceless against these commercial giants,’ Gardee said.

He said individuals or organisations that had their accounts, credit and loan facilities terminated without good cause or on the basis of racial discrimination could join the class action.

They needed to make contact via the website www.gardeeattorneys.co.za.

‘Our clients invite the SA public to make contact with us and register their interest to fight against the boundless public power exercised by banks and other financial institutions,’ Gardee said.

He was convinced the application would succeed as his firm has evaluated the facts presented by its clients, and if unsuccessful they would pursue the matter through appeals all the way up to the Constitutional Court, if necessary.

‘We understand the magnitude and significance of this matter and we are committed in this fight against the unconstitutional and discriminatory conduct by the banks and other financial institutions.’

Full Cape Argus report