EFF refuses to remove Manuel statements

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says it will not remove statements from all their media platforms nor apologise to former Finance Minister Trevor Manuel – despite a South Gauteng High Court ruling to this effect.

The Court ruled that the EFF has to pay R500 000 in damages to Manuel over a defamatory tweet published in March.

The court found comments made by the EFF about Manuel were “defamatory and false”.

However, the EFF has instructed its attorneys to appeal the judgment – which ordered the party to apologise to Manuel.

EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu says, “Once we appeal the judgment of the court,  that judgment is set aside until a different court has reached a different conclusion. So whatever the court has said doesn’t hold water until there’s been a different finding.”

“In an instance of the public protector [Busisiwe Mkhwebane] rulings and findings, it’s a different regime and disappears all together. In our case when we appeal the findings of the court are set aside and meaningless,” explains Shivambu.

EFF Will Appeal The Decision Of The High Court On Trevor Manuel’s Defamation Application Against The EFF. pic.twitter.com/iVjviuGOY6

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) May 30, 2019