Yengeni to face ethics committee

2003-02-25 20:03

Cape Town - Disgraced former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni will be summoned to appear before parliament's ethics committee next week to explain why he failed to disclose a substantial benefit in the register of members' interest.

Committee chair Luwellyn Landers said on Tuesday his committee would formally consider the Yengeni matter on March 5, during which Yengeni would be asked "to avail himself of the opportunity" to address it.

The ethics committee last year suspended its inquiry pending Yengeni's trial on charges of corruption and fraud arising from a 47% discount he received on a luxury 4x4 vehicle from a company involved in the arms deal.

Yengeni was convicted of fraud earlier this month after pleading guilty in terms of an agreement with the State. In return, he was acquitted of corruption.

His trial was postponed to March 19 for sentencing in Pretoria's Commercial Crimes Court.

Meanwhile, the Chief Whips Forum will meet on Wednesday to discuss a draft resolution aimed at censuring Yengeni, who lied to the National Assembly in a special statement on March 28 last year.

ANC Chief Whip Nathi Nhleko said in a memo to his opposition counterparts that it was hoped the resolution could be tabled on Thursday in the National Assembly.

No penalty for non-member

The memorandum was written on Monday ahead of the ANC's national working committee (NWC) meeting, where it was expected Yengeni's fate would be decided.

Nhleko stated: "Please not that the House can pronounce itself on a matter regardless of whether an individual is still a member or not. However, we cannot impose or implement penalties on those who are not members."

However, on Monday night ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said the party's NWC would wait until Yengeni was sentenced before it decided on his future in the party.

In his statement to the National Assembly last year, Yengeni claimed he had legitimately purchased the vehicle. His protestations of innocence even resulted in a petition signed by ANC parliamentary staff supporting him and condemning the media.

Yengeni told the Assembly: "Its acquisition does not in any way amount to a gift or a donation, and therefore there was no interest to be declared."

Last week NCOP chair Naledi Pandor said parliament would finalise a new law, which would cover the case where MPs misled or lied to parliament, as has been the case with Yengeni.

There was currently no mechanism to discipline a member for lying to the House, although the issue could be dealt with by way of setting up an ad hoc committee in terms of a resolution.

Among the priorities this year was to finalise the legislation on parliament's powers and immunities act.

- SAPA