Shauwn Mkhize – also known as MaMkhize – has threatened to sue Portfolio Committee on Police chairman Ian Cameron over his allegations linking her to alleged fraudulent businessman Vusi “Cat” Matlala.
The bombshell claim was made in a media briefing on Monday, 7 July, following KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s underworld allegations about the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu.
Cameron claimed that MaMkhize – who has been previously convicted of bribery, tax evasion, and forgery – was associates with both Mchunu and Matlala.
IAN CAMERON BACKTRACKS ON MAMKHIZE’S LINK TO VUSI MATLALA
Speaking to IOL, Iam Cameron conceded he had erroneously linked MaMkhize to controversial tenderpreneur, Vusi “Cat” Matlala.
He said: “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.”
During a media briefing on Monday, Cameron said: “During that raid, a whole cache of firearms was seized. All of those firearms were registered to a security company belonging to none other than Mr Cat Matlala”.
Cameron is referring to a SARS raid of MaMkhize’s La Lucia mansion last November amid reports she owes R40 million in unpaid taxes. He also mentioned businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who, Nhlanla Mkhwanazi previously claimed, is believed to have benefited from his relationship with Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Cameron added in his speech that all the firearms had been returned to Matlala despite their call for an inquiry.
APOLOGY AS LOUD AS THE ACCUSATIONS?
Meanwhile, MaMhize’s legal team have ordered Iam Cameron to retract his statement about Vusi Matlala and publicly apologise.
Her lawyer, Mpho Nefuri, said, “My client’s name was erroneously linked to criminal activity, and 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.”
The legal representative continued: “This retraction must be published and or broadcast in the same parliament and all media coverage. It must be clear and explicit on your retraction that the allegations were false. Without basis and verification, and lacked authenticity. And that you deeply regret that you made them.”
In response, Cameron told the Citizen that, irrespective of his slip-up, MaMkhize was guilty of unlawfully storing firearms belonging to the licensed holder.
He said: “Raising serious questions about regulatory failure, firearm control, and private security oversight.
“These matters are of clear public interest and fall squarely within my constitutional oversight role as a Member of Parliament, which is protected by parliamentary privilege.
“The firearms were stored in contravention of PSIRA’s own regulations and seemingly the Firearms Control Act”.
WHO IS VUSI XABA?
Vusi Xaba is MaMkhize’s bodyguard and owner of VVIP Protection and VIP Security.
According to reports, Xaba is also a taxi boss and has been summoned to appear in SARS tax evasion charges against MaMkhize.
