Daimler Chrysler received a gentle tap on the wrist from Tokyo Sexwale on Monday for implying that he also owned one of their R3-million luxury Maybach vehicles.
This contrasts with fellow businessman Cyril Ramaphosa’s response, which was to slap a law suit on the company.
In a statement released on Monday, Sexwale said Daimler Chrysler’s retraction last week was ”long overdue”, but should now put an end to the matter.
He said he was ”unimpressed with piecemeal private settlements”.
Two months ago the car manufacturer reportedly said Sexwale, Ramaphosa, and mining magnate Patrice Motsepe all owned a Maybach 62 sedan, which is valued at about $500 000.
However, this statement was corrected on Friday.
The only known owner of a Maybach in Southern Africa was King Mswati III of Swaziland, who recently acquired one to the outrage of his subjects.
The Maybach 62 sedan is equipped with a television, DVD player, 21-speaker surround-sound system, refrigerator, cordless telephone, heated steering wheel, interior pollen and dust filter, golf bag and sterling silver champagne flutes.
Ramaphosa has said he was offended that he should be said to own a Maybach as this would indicate that he lacked ”social sensitivity”.
He told The Sunday Times that his lawsuit was a ”matter of principal” and that any financial settlement would have been donated to charity.
Sexwale said on Monday that he hoped it would be a ”lesson in how not to do business” for Daimler Chrysler.
”It was a relatively easy situation, which merely required a public correction close to eight weeks ago”. – Sapa