The granting of a weekend pass by the Correctional Services department to fraud convict and former parliamentary African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Tony Yengeni “sends the wrong message about corruption to the South African public”, says Democratic Alliance correctional services spokesperson James Selfe.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said Yengeni’s behaviour over the weekend should mean he be required to serve his full four-year term and not be released on January 15. Yengeni is alleged to have broken parole conditions by drinking and arriving late on return to the Malmesbury Prison on Sunday.
De Lille said it appeared that the department was failing in its efforts to rehabilitate the former whip.
“If Yengeni goes unpunished for his drinking while on a weekend off and [returning] late return to prison, then he will be released early next year into general society as corrupt as when he went into prison,” said De Lille.
“If the Department of Correctional Services is serious about rehabilitating Yengeni’s criminal nature, which plays itself out in his ‘take what I can’ mentality, then it will ensure that he is banned from receiving another weekend off in the future.”
Meanwhile, Selfe said: “Yengeni’s flagrant disregard for the rules governing his parole indicates his lack of remorse for the crimes he has committed and proves that he thinks he is above the law.”
“This behaviour should be punished to the fullest extent of the law and Yengeni should have his rights to future weekend passes cancelled.”
“According to media reports, Tony Yengeni violated two fundamental regulations governing his release on parole. Yengeni is reported to have drunk alcohol with friends yesterday [Sunday] before arriving back at Malmesbury Prison more than an hour late,” Selfe noted.
“The whole Yengeni saga, including this latest twist, has set an appalling example to the public, namely that corruption is not a serious offence, and if you are connected at the highest level of the African National Congress government you can get off lightly anyway, and even gain hero status as a result.”
“The ANC government has failed at every turn to condemn corruption in the severe terms it should and shun those who commit corrupt acts. This applies especially when it has come to corruption committed by those at the highest level within its own ranks.”
“Our correctional system cannot work if bad behaviour is rewarded. Rewards such as weekend passes and early release should only be given to those prisoners who clearly demonstrate that they are remorseful for the crimes they have committed, have made every effort to reform and are demonstrating exemplary behaviour.”
“If what happened this weekend is anything to go by, Tony Yengeni is not demonstrating any of these qualities. Clearly, the ANC government should be
condemning Yengeni for this latest outrage.”
Selfe said that he would submit questions in Parliament to ascertain what were Yengeni’s parole conditions, did he violate any of these conditions this weekend and if any violation did take place “what action will be taken?”
Yengeni reported to Pollsmoor on August 24 this year to begin a four year sentence for fraud following his acceptance of a discount on a luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicle from one of the arms deal bidders. He was quickly transferred to Malmesbury — where another former ANC leader Allan Boesak served most of his two years of a six year prison sentence for fraud and theft before receiving a presidential pardon.
If Yengeni is released in January, he will have served six months of his four-year sentence. – I-Net Bridge