CAPE TOWN — Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has silenced veteran arms deal activist Terry Crawford-Browne from further “defaming” him with allegations that Manuel was “corrupt” and that he was “guilty of corruption” because of his role in the arms deal.

Cape High Court Judge Andre le Grange yesterday granted Manuel an interim order to stop Crawford-Browne making such statements, pending the launching of an action to seek a permanent restraining order on Crawford-Browne, which has to be lodged within 20 days.

Manuel said yesterday he was “sad” to have had to resort to the courts to protect him as it reflected “a negative energy society does not need”.

Manuel said he was not interested in seeking financial compensation from Crawford-Browne, just that he wanted to restrain him from making such “terrible” statements.

Manuel said he felt like a “battered wife” who could not go to court and ask it to order her husband to “pay me R100, because he beats me up every Friday night”.

“I only have my name and integrity; that has to stand in the circumstances,” Manuel said.

Crawford-Browne had alleged that Manuel, by signing loan agreements which were never referred to Parliament for authority, had “prostituted himself for the sake of political perks and power” .

With acknowledgements to Chris van Gass and Business Day.