Cape Town — Arms deal activist Terry Crawford-Browne has been found guilty of contempt of court for ignoring a high court order which stopped him from further accusing Finance Minister Trevor Manuel of being corrupt or of any other criminal conduct in connection with the arms deal.

Cape High Court Judge Burton Fourie on Friday ruled that a sentence against Crawford-Browne for breaching the court order be postponed for three years.

Manuel's application to find Crawford-Browne in contempt was launched after Crawford-Browne provided the press with a letter of demand to Manuel for R5m, as well as a 30-page affidavit, which formed part of a criminal complaint by Crawford-Browne against Manuel.

In what has been a "history of acrimonious litigation" between the two, according to Fourie, he said that depending on Crawford-Browne's conduct "he may or may not " be called on to appear for sentencing within the three years.

If Crawford-Browne did not again breach the court order during the period of the postponement, he would not be called on to appear again and his sentence would, on expiry of the three years, "automatically be deemed to have been a warning and discharged".

Manuel's spokeswoman, Thoraya Pandy, said they were "happy" with the judgment.