The case against 34 international companies and financial institutions accused of abetting apartheid is due to begin in a New York court today.
Among the companies are computing giants IBM and ICL, which are accused of liability for supplying the computers that enabled SA to create the passbook system and control the black population.
The case is being brought by US attorney Edward Fagan on behalf of Khulumani Support Group, an apartheid victims` support group. Fagan, along with South African attorney John Ngcebetsha, are reported to be seeking between $50 billion and $80 billion in damages.
The apartheid victims` group aims to show that the international companies aided and abetted apartheid by supplying goods and services to the South African government.
Other corporations implicated in the lawsuit include banking giants Barclays National Bank and Deutsche Bank; petroleum companies British Petroleum, Shell and Mobil; and motoring manufacturers Ford Motor Company and DaimlerChrysler.
IBM and ICL distanced themselves from the accusations shortly after the suit was filed last year. IBM said the suit lacked merit, while ICL said it was unfair for the group to make such accusations without evidence.
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