Equality Court blow for businessman in R10m claim

THE Equality Court has turned down a Cape Town businessman's application against the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), describing David Lotterie’s complaint as frivolous, ill-founded, and did not engage a matter of constitutional importance.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

The director of a financial services provider (FSP) company Lotterie Holdings Pty Ltd, had hauled the FSCA before the courts for an order to have it paying R10 million, reinstatement of his company’s licence, as well as an unconditional apology.

He had instituted proceedings against the FSCA in terms of Section 20 of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 (PEPUDA). The damages claim was for reputational defamation and economic hardship he suffered after his company’s licence was suspended in February 2021, when he failed to pay levies owed in terms of Section 15A of the Financial Services Board Act 97 of 1990 (FSB Act).