DA's Ian Cameron apologises to Shauwn Mkhize over ‘wrong Vusi' claim after legal threat
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
Democratic Alliance parliamentary police committee chair Ian Cameron has publicly apologised to Durban business tycoon Shauwn Mkhize, admitting he mistakenly named businessman Vusi 'Cat' Matlala over guns found on her property, while they belonged to businessman Vusi Xaba.
'It was quite interesting… It was Monday during a press briefing when I said the wrong Vusimusi in terms of firearms illegally stored at one of her properties,' Cameron said Wednesday outside Parliament.
He acknowledged the mistake, saying the ammunition belonged to businessman Vusi Xaba, not controversial figure Vusi 'Cat' Matlala, who has been linked to the criminal underworld and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
'I just by mistake said the wrong Vusimusi - I said Vusi Musi Matlala instead of Vusi Musi Xaba - and that's that,' Cameron said.
Even though he apologised for naming the wrong person, Cameron maintained that the firearms were stored illegally.
'The point is, there were severe irregularities - transgressions of both the CIRA regulations for private security and the Firearms Control Act,' he said.
On Tuesday, an IOL News investigation revealed that the ammunition found at Mkhize's property belonged to Xaba.
The news followed Cameron's Monday announcement in which he incorrectly stated the firearms were linked to Matlala.
"I can confirm it was a slip-up with the name and that the guns did in fact belong to Vusi Xaba, not Matlala. However, while the ownership was legal, the storage of the arms was illegal," Cameron told IOL News.
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Mkhize's lawyer, Mpho Nefuri, rejected that claim and demanded a public retraction and apology within 48 hours.
"My client's name was erroneously linked to criminal activity, with even SAPS mentioned to give the false claim credence,' Nefuri said.
'There's been no report from SAPS stating the arms were illegally owned or stored. My client doesn't even know Vusi Matlala.'
In a letter of demand to Cameron, seen by IOL News, Nefuri said that Cameron's comments harmed Mkhize's dignity and reputation.
'As a leader, public representative, and member of Parliament, you are duty-bound to ensure your statements are accurate and do not unjustly harm others,' the letter reads.
'Your failure to verify the veracity of your claims constitutes a gross and negligent violation of our client's rights under South African law, including her constitutional rights under Sections 10 and 16.'
The letter demanded a clear, unequivocal public retraction published or broadcast in Parliament and across the same media platforms.
Cameron, however, told IOL News he would issue the retraction but stood by the assertion that the storage of the firearms was illegal.
This follows explosive allegations made on Sunday by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused Mchunu and Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of links to drug cartels, corruption, and bribery.
Mkhwanazi also alleged connections between Mchunu and Matlala, who faces murder and corruption accusations.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mchunu denied any links to Matlala, who is alleged to be an underworld criminal kingpin.
The minister's spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said Wednesday that Mchunu has never communicated with Matlala or received anything from him.
'In response to the recent allegations made by provincial commissioner Mkhwanazi, and while respecting the president's call for calm, the Minister of Police, Mr. Senzo Mchunu, feels it is important to clarify the following: "The minister has never met Mr. Matlala, has never spoken to him, nor has he ever requested or received anything from him,' Kamogelo Mogotsi said.
However, Mogotsi said Mchunu initiated a review of the SAPS tender awarded to Brian Mogotsi after suspicions of possible wrongdoing surfaced. 'It was the same tender which has since been terminated,' he added.
'Furthermore, while the minister knows and has met Mr. Brown Mogotsi, he is just a comrade and not an associate of the minister.'
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