Clive Derby-Lewis, imprisoned for life for the murder of SA Communist Party leader Chris Hani in 1993, complained to the Press Ombudsman on Tuesday about an article describing former deputy president Jacob Zuma's visit to him in prison.
"Many parts of this report are factually inaccurate, and other parts have been simply made up," read a copy of the complaint, dictated by Derby-Lewis to his wife Gaye.
"The most offensive part is the paragraph 'Zuma was apparently shocked by Derby-Lewis's narration of a wider conspiracy which included the involvement of former military intelligence'. This statement is a complete lie.
"Only three people were present at the meeting between the then deputy president Jacob Zuma and myself, and the third person was Liesl Gottert.
"At no time during the meeting was anything like this point discussed or even brought up. This is extremely mischievous reporting and the journalist could have had no source for this printed lie.
"Other facts which are incorrect in the article are as follows: There was only one visit - in 2004 at Central Prison, Mr Janus Walusz (convicted of the murder with Derby-Lewis) was not at the meeting, during the meeting there was no talk whatsoever about a 'broader conspiracy', the meeting was initiated by myself, I have never been incarcerated in C-Max, President Mbeki was not at all discussed during the visit."
He said that the "falsehoods" have caused embarrassment to Zuma and "possibly even to President Mbeki".
"I would add that I have been visited by six cabinet ministers or deputy ministers over the years while in Pretoria Prison, so Mr Zuma's visit is not unusual in that context."
Johannesburg's Sunday Independent reported on July 16 that Zuma visited "Hani's killers" in a move said to have annoyed President Thabo Mbeki.
Five sources said the visit was at the request of Derby-Lewis to either divulge information in the assassination of Hani or/and discuss a possible presidential pardon, the report continued.
"While the department of correctional services and sources close to Zuma said the visit took place when he was still deputy president of the country in 2005, a C-Max prison official said the visit, which appears to be a different one, took place months after Mbeki fired Zuma as deputy president."
It said that film maker Liesl Gottert, who produced a documentary about Zuma, said she was part of a "seemingly a different visit" in March 2004.
Mbeki is reported to have raised a concern about the visits at the African National Congress' parliamentary caucus last month.
The newspaper said it could not confirm the exact dates of the visit because it was an "extraordinary" visit and had not been recorded in the visitors' books.
Press Ombudsman Ed Linington said that he was taking the necessary steps to look into the matter.
Derby-Lewis said he sent a copy of his letter to Zuma and Mbeki.
The editor of the Sunday Independent was not immediately available to comment. - Sapa