/ 8 October 2001

ANC TO DECIDE YENGENI’S STATUS IN PARLIAMENT

THE African National Congress’ (ANC) national working committee would decide the position of the party’s former Chief Whip, Tony Yengeni, as an ordinary Member of Parliament on Monday, SABC radio news reported. Yengeni has indicated that he will abide by its decision. He resigned as Chief Whip last week as Chief Whip after being arrested on charges of corruption, forgery and perjury. Despite claims that he took the decision to resign last Thursday on his own, ANC sources indicated that pressure had been exerted on him by the ANC’s Political Committee in Parliament. Yengeni’s huge discount when he bought a luxurious Mercedes Benz is at the heart of the controversy that has led to his arrest and first court appearance. He will again appear in court next January. The suspended managing director of the European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company, Michael Woerfel, who offered the discount, will appear in a Pretoria court on Wednesday, the SABC said. – Sapa