African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni has until 5pm today to reply to a second letter from Parliament's ethics committee, asking him to respond to claims that he failed to disclose a luxury vehicle. 

Yengeni was originally given seven days to respond, but instead of answering the allegations, questioned the committee's procedures instead.  

He had also been asked to explain why he failed to declare a home, in the Cape Town suburb of Tijgerhof, in the register of members' interests.  

Registrar of members' interests, Fazela Mohamed, confirmed yesterday that a second letter, in terms of Parliament's rules, had been sent to Yengeni asking him to reply. He had until today afternoon to do so, in writing.

Asked what would happen if he again failed to respond, Mohamed said there was no precedent for such a case and the committee would have to consider the matter. Parliament is in recess for the Easter break.  

Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson said Yengeni was perilously close to being in contempt of Parliament. "I urge him to make a full disclose by deadline. Ordinary people are struggling to come to terms with this difficulty in making a simple disclosure. "If he has nothing to hide, why does he keep on hiding?"  

Gibson said Yengeni should provide the requisite documents, including the finance agreement, his paid cheques, or confirmation of the debit order payments.  

However, the Sunday Times reported that Yengeni only started paying instalments on the vehicle seven months after it was registered in his name, and then only after rumours began circulating in Parliament that he had acquired the car as a gift.  

The vehicle was originally bought as a staff car by a company involved in the arms deal, and was registered there.  

Last weekend, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) said it had "rendered assistance" to about 30 VIPs over the past three years to obtain vehicles.  

The company, which is linked to Mercedes-Benz manufacturer Daimler Chrysler, said the assistance included price discounts and speeding up delivery ahead of waiting lists.  

The VIPs were in the civil airlines, defence, electronic and related industries, as well as diplomatic and political fields, EADS said.  

The Sunday Times also reported that a manager at EADS, Michael Lebling, had confirmed that his MD, Michael Woerfel, had instructed him to order a Mercedes Benz C180 that was later registered in the name of Yengeni's wife, Lumka, on January 5. 

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Business Day.