OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday
ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni has come out fighting after a week of political drama and mud-slinging over a luxury 4×4 and a house he owns which he didn’t declare in parliament’s register of members’ assets, the News24 web site reports.
“Whatever happens, there’ll be blood on the floor,” the website quoted Yengeni as saying.
“I’ve been through worse than this. The previous government detained and tortured me. Those were the most difficult times of my life. If I could survive that, I can survive anything. The struggle against apartheid made me strong.
“I’ve been in the limelight the whole week. It has impacted on me personally and on my wife and kids. It is traumatic for them,” he was quoted as saying.
“I am not guilty. I bought the vehicle legally. I have documents of ownership to prove it. I’ll make those documents public during the coming investigation.
“This is not a simple matter. There are many rumours and lots of gossip. There is no way I’ll let myself get dragged into an investigation by the media.
“How do I know how they’ll handle the information? I’ll co-operate with the public investigation. I know my rights will be protected there. My rights as a citizen are protected by the constitution and nobody will intimidate me.
“I’m taking steps to have my name cleared. I’ve already consulted my legal representatives.
“There is going to be blood on the floor, no matter what happens. If anybody did anything wrong, the law must take its course. The country will then cry for justice,” he declared.
“But those who laid a false trail will have to accept responsibility for their actions if there is no proof of wrongdoing. I’ll not stop at anything. The line in the sand has been drawn.”
Yengeni said he has explained his position to the ANC leadership.
He said he declared the house in parliament’s asset register in 1996 and was under the impression it was not necessary to do so again last year.
“It is not a new house that I bought later.
“The register is important because it prevents people from abusing power. In principle, such a register is not wrong. It depends on how it is implemented. The register must be looked into again,” he said.
The opposition is using the events of the past week against him, he claimed.
“Members of the defence committee didn’t have anything to do with the arms deal. It was a cabinet decision. We weren’t even asked for submissions.”
ZA*NOW:
Benz man won arms bid March 30, 2001
Yengeni has little to fear from the law March 30, 2001
Reluctant Yengeni protests innocence March 29, 2001
Tony, youre on your own March 27, 2001
Yo, Tony, whered you get the 4×4? March 26, 2001
Yengenis mysterious Merc March 25, 2001
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