Yengeni probe given 9 days
2003-03-05 11:13
Cape Town - MPs investigating whether African National Congress former chief whip Tony Yengeni misled parliament must report back to the National Assembly within nine days, according to an ANC draft resolution.
A special multiparty committee is to be appointed in terms of the National Assembly's rules, and will comprise 14 ANC MPs, two Democratic Alliance MPs and one member each from the other parties.
The draft resolution is in the name of ANC chief whip Nathi Nhleko, and will be moved during Wednesday afternoon's plenary session of the assembly.
Although opposition parties indicated on Tuesday they would oppose this, the ANC majority in parliament carries the day.
The committee must consider Yengeni's statement to the house on March 28 last year, in which he protested his innocence and claimed he legitimately bought a 4x4 luxury vehicle.
However, Yengeni has since pleaded guilty to fraud, and admitted he received a 47% discount on the vehicle from the head of a company involved in the arms deal.
He also acknowledged his misrepresentation was made with the intent to defraud parliament. He will be sentenced on March 19.
'Honourable thing to do'
The draft resolution says the special committee will also consider this plea of guilty, as well as any representations by the disgraced MP himself.
It adds that "in order to achieve a political order in South Africa that is open and transparent and accountable, as envisaged in the constitution, it is essential that the integrity of public representatives and that of the political institutions in which they serve are beyond question".
The committee should advise the house whether Yengeni "deliberately misled the house, and if so, make recommendations regarding appropriate sanctions".
Meanwhile, the Sowetan newspaper reported on Wednesday that ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe had joined National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala in calling for Yengeni to resign as an MP.
Motlanthe reportedly said this was the honourable thing to do.
Asked for reaction to calls for his resignation, Yengeni said: "No comment."
A meeting of parliament's joint ethics committee - before which Yengeni was summoned to appear on Wednesday to answer claims that he failed to disclose a substantial discount of the vehicle - was postponed on Tuesday until next week.
On Tuesday, ANC MPs clashed with Ginwala and opposition MPs in the National Assembly's rules committee on how the house should deal with the Yengeni matter.
By opting for the multiparty committee route, Yengeni is saved the public embarrassment of making a statement to a plenary session of the house.
Cautioned against passing judgment
Ginwala, supported by opposition parties, wanted Yengeni to appear before the house to explain why he had misled parliament on March 28.
"It is extremely serious to mislead parliament. I am asking the house to act on this matter.
"It's time the South African public realised that some people in this parliament are taking the institution very seriously, and let us see how many," she told MPs.
ANC MPs, led by Nhleko, cautioned against passing judgment on Yengeni without due process.
However, opposition parties noted that in his plea bargain with the State, Yengeni had, in fact, admitted his guilt and that he had defrauded parliament.
He had deliberately made the statement to the house after asking for the opportunity to do so.
- SAPA