The South Gauteng High Court has dismissed an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF's) 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 he sued the party for alleging in a statement that he was a business associate of and related to new South African Revenue Service Commissioner Edward Kieswetter.

The EFF, in a statement, 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 for the top job in the revenue service. The panel made recommendations but did not make the final decision.