Yengeni sentence hailed

2003-03-19 13:55

Johannesburg - Opposition parties welcomed the four-year prison term handed down on African National Congress former chief whip Tony Yengeni on Wednesday, but the ANC itself held back its comment until the outcome of Yengeni's appeal against the sentence.

Party spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said they had noted the sentence and the statement by Yengeni's lawyer that he intended mounting an appeal.

"As the matter is therefore still before the court, the ANC will not make a substantive statement at this point. It will do so once all legal processes have been completed," he said.

Pretoria's commercial crimes court sentenced Yengeni to four years in prison - without the option of a fine - for defrauding parliament.

Pan Africanist Congress MP Patricia de Lille, who raised concerns about the Yengeni scandal early on, said the sentence showed that the "crime does not pay".

"This sends a message to other members of parliament and officials that they are not above the law. We are all subject to the law."

De Lille praised the judiciary for their handling of the case. She thanked the Scorpions unit for their investigation, and the media - especially the Sunday Times - for "their investigative journalism".

"It was a combination of the police, the media and the whistle-blowers that resulted in a conviction," she said.

The Democratic Alliance said it believed the sentence was "appropriately severe".

DA chief whip Douglas Gibson said: "The public will be wondering whether Mr Yengeni is the only person who will pay for his dishonesty or whether others involved in the arms scandal will end up being punished."

The Inkatha Freedom Party's chief whip, Koos van de Merwe, said: "The IFP is satisfied the rule of law has run its course and that the judiciary has upheld the principle that members of parliament must adhere to the very highest standards of integrity in public life.

'Others got discounts, too'

"We hope this example will serve as a deterrent to all members of parliament of the consequences of corruption and fraud".

The United Democratic Movement said: "We believe justice has been done at last.

"This serves as a lesson for any would-be greedy politicians not to abuse their positions.

"The sentencing of Mr Yengeni must inspire the Scorpions to arrest other guilty parties in the arms deal.

"For instance, there were 30 other high-ranking people who received discounted vehicles."

- SAPA