The African National Congress (ANC) has noted the release on Monday of its former National Assembly chief whip from prison and says that it has “consistently held” that the law must take its course without fear or favour.
The party also hinted that there could be a role for Tony Yengeni in what it terms the building of a non-racial society once he had satisfied the conditions of the legal system and other party sanctions.
In a statement, spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said the party had urged respect for the outcome of the legal process and respect for correctional regulations and procedures.
“That remains the ANC’s position as he begins his period of correctional supervision,” said Ngonyama.
Yengeni was released after 20 weeks of his four-year sentence for fraud from the Malmesbury prison on Monday.
The ANC said that consistent with its own internal rules and regulations, the party brought disciplinary action against Yengeni in June 2003, “where he pleaded guilty to charges of contravening the African National Congress constitution, and sanctions were imposed”.
“The ANC trusts that following the completion of his period of correctional supervision, having satisfied both the conditions of the court and the sanctions of the ANC, Yengeni will be allowed to resume his life and will be able to continue his contribution to building a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist society.”
Earlier on Monday, the Democratic Alliance, the African Christian Democratic Party, the Independent Democrats and the Inkatha Freedom Party all criticised the early release of Yengeni.
Yengeni was convicted in 2003 of defrauding parliament by failing to disclose a 47% discount on a luxury 4X4 Mercedes-Benz. He was sent to Pollsmoor prison — and quickly transferred to Malmesbury. He went to prison in August last year. – I-Net Bridge