'Ma'Mkhize' Shauwn Mkhize not linked to Xaba arms cache, Ian Cameron admits name slip

Ammunition found on the property of Durban business tycoon Shauwn Mkhize belonged to businessman Vusi Xaba; and not to controversial Vusi Matlala who is alleged to have links to the underworld and police minister Senzo Mchunu.

An IOL investigation has confirmed this following a dramatic announcement by DA parliamentary portfolio committee chair of police, Ian Cameron, who announced on Monday that the guns belonged to Matlala.

"I can confirm that it was a slip up with the name and that the guns did in fact belong to Vusi Xaba and not Matlala. However while the ownership was legal the storage of the arms was illegal," Cameron told IOL when approached for a response.

However, lawyer for Mkhize, Mpho Nefuri, has rejected this and given Cameron 24 hours to retract and apologise publicly.

"My client's name was erroneously linked to criminal activity wherein even SAPS was mentioned to give the false claim credence. There's been no report from SAPS to say the arms were illegally owned or stored and my client does not even know this Vusi Matlala," Nefuri told IOL.

In the letter of demand to Cameron from Nefuri on behalf of Mkhize – seen by IOL – Cameron is asked to apologise publicly.

"It is common cause to say that as a leader and public representative and member of parliament, you are duty-bound to ensure that your public statements are accurate and do not unjustly harm others. Your failure to verify the veracity of the claims you mentioned constitutes a gross deliberate or negligent violation of our client’s rights under South African Law, including the common law of defamation and her constitutional rights to dignity and reputation under section 10 and 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa," reads the letter.

"We hereby demand, on behalf of our client, that you comply with the following within 48 hours of receipt of this letter: Withdrawal and Retraction of the malicious averments you alluded on your address; you shall issue a clear, unequivocal, and public retraction of defamatory allegations made against our client in parliament. This retraction must be published and or broadcasted in the same parliament and all media coverage."

The bungle followed Sunday's sensational expose by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of drug cartels, corruption and bribery involving Mchunu and deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of having links to Matlala who stands accused of murder and corruption.

Cameron confirmed to IOL he would retract, but stands by the illegal storage claim.

This is a developing story.