This after the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday 18 June 2019 dismissed its leave to appeal the judgment against it that the statement earlier made against Manuel was unlawful and false. The court further ordered the EFF to apologise to Manuel and remove the statement from all its platforms and it also awarded Manuel R500 000 in damages. This after the EFF in March accused Manuel of nepotism and corruption in influencing the appointment of new Sars commissioner, Edward Kieswetter. The EFF has, however, urged his followers not to be moved by the ruling, saying his party was not the first to lose a court case.

EFF secretary general Godrich Gardee said his party will "go to the highest court in the land" to seek justice.

"We intend exercising our rights and petition the Supreme Court of Appeal within 24 hours. We think that the lower court has erred and disregarded certain facts on the matter and actually misapplied the law," Gardee said.

Manuel approached the High Court after the party accused him of a conflict of interest in the appointment.

The Citizen/ANA