Survé wins interim interdict preventing Nedbank closing accounts

Iqbal Survé of Sekunjalo Group has obtained an injunction preventing Nedbank from closing dozens of bank accounts.

The Equality Court in Cape Town ruled on Friday that all accounts already closed should be reopened immediately Effect.

The court also ordered that the accounts be maintained on unchanged terms pending the final decision on Sekunjalo’s main claim before the Equal Treatment Court.

“I agree with the submission of Die Sekunjalo group advocating the balance of convenience for restoring and maintaining the status quo given its longstanding relationship with Nedbank and given the… potential harm,” said Judge Mokgoatji Dolamo.

He said Sekunjalo did prima facie evidence that it had been unfairly discriminated against.

The complainants in this case are Survé and 43 other representatives of Sekunjalo Group, while the defendants are Nedbank and Nedbank Private Wealth.

Sekunjalo argued that N edbank’s conduct in issuing notices amounts to racial discrimination and violates the Equality Act.

< p>The bank said the allegations of racism were unfounded and unsupported by facts, adding that no irreparable harm would be done to Survé if the ban were not upheld and his complaints will be upheld in due course.

< p>Nedbank said that given the significant risk of reputational damage, it would suffer serious disadvantages if forced to continue providing banking services to the group.

However, Dolamo said: “The reality is that it is difficult will be to find another bank that will accept them as customers once Nedbank closes the Sekunjalo Group’s bank accounts.”

He urged Nedbank to za payment of Sekunjalo’s legal fees.

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