EFF loses appeal bid in Trevor Manuel defamation case
18 June 2019
The South Gauteng High Court has dismissed an EFF application for leave to appeal a defamation ruling in a case brought against them by Trevor Manuel.
In late May Judge Elias Matojane had ordered the EFF to apologise to Manuel after the former finance minister sued the party for alleging in a statement that he was a business associate of and related to new SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter.
Matojane also awarded Manuel R500 000 in general damages. The EFF, in a statement in March, had described Manuel’s involvement in Kieswetter’s selection process as "nepotistic" and "corrupt".
Manuel was the head of a selection panel, appointed by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, tasked with interviewing candidates to head up the tax agency. The panel made recommendations for the top job, but did not make the final decision.