The EFF has been ordered to pay Trevor Manuel damages of R500 000, after the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg ruled that the comments they made were “defamatory and false”.
They were also ordered to apologise to the former Finance Minister and remove the defamatory statements from all their media platforms, within 24 hours.
This judgement is related to the appointment of the new SARS commissioner, Prof Edward Kieswetter. On March 27, the EFF claimed that Prof Kieswetter was appointed because he was related to and a business partner of Mr Manuel.
Mr Manuel was the head of a selection panel, appointed by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, that interviewed potential candidates and made recommendations. The panel recommended Prof Kieswetter but it was the President that made the appointment.
At the time, Mr Manuel called the statement racist since the accusation that they were relatives was false and based only on them being classified Coloured. In addition, they had no business ties.
The EFF also claimed that the selection process was secretive, but the court found that “the process was open and transparent”.
In its judgement, the court said it believed that the EFF, its spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and its president Julius Malema, had a clear intention of hurting Manuel’s public image.
In addition to ruling that the EFF’s remarks were defamatory and false, Justice Elias Matojane also ruled that the EFF must also pay Mr Manuel’s legal fees on an “attorney and client scale”.
Mr Manuel has stated that he plans to donate the R500 000 to a charitable organisation.
The EFF, however, has indicated that it will appeal the judgment.