/ 25 February 2003

Yengeni’s future to be decided after sentencing

The National Working Committee of the African National Congress (ANC) will wait until its former chief whip Tony Yengeni is sentenced before it decides on his future in the party.

”Nothing was discussed about Yengeni. We will wait until he has been sentenced and we will issue a statement,” ANC representative Smuts Ngonyama said on Monday after a meeting of the NWC.

Yengeni’s charges relate to a 47% discount he received on a luxury four-wheel-drive Mercedes Benz in 1998. Yengeni was convicted of fraud earlier this month after pleading guilty in terms of an agreement with the State. He was acquitted of

corruption.

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

Ngonyama said the NWC meeting focused on preparations for the growth and development summit scheduled to take place soon. – Sapa