The African National Congress (ANC) has closed ranks around its beleagured Chief Whip Tony Yengeni, who was due to answer claims this week that he failed to disclose a luxury vehicle from a company involved in the state’s R43bn arms deal. 

Yengeni had until 5pm on Thursday to respond to a second deadline from the Parliamentary ethics committee, after originally questioning the committee's procedures. He is also accused of failing to declare a residential property in the Register of Members' Interests. 

While most parliamentary officials left early on Thursday for the Easter weekend, Registrar of Members' Interests Fazela Mohamed remained in her office until after 5pm. However, Mohamed refused to comment, saying she had been instructed by committee chair and ANC MP Sister Bernard Ncube not to respond to media queries. 

Ncube has repeatedly failed to reply to any of the messages left on her voicemail this week. Telephoned at her recess number, an unidentified women when asked to speak to Sister Ncube said: "It is Holy Thursday. Can't she pray?" 

Democratic Alliance Chief Whip Douglas Gibson, who lodged the official complaint following newspaper claims that Yengeni had received the vehicle as a "gift" from a company involved in the arms deal, said: "It's disgraceful." "Sister Bernard Ncube is acting improperly by failing to take the public and Parliament into her confidence." 

Ncube's deputy, Gezane Mushwana, also of the ANC, said he was not aware whether Yengeni had replied. Yengeni's political adviser, Themba Nobathana, and his media spokesperson, Dennis Cruywagen, refused to comment. Senior ANC MPs, including the party's deputy chief whip Geoff Doidge, were not immediately available. 

Yengeni has previously denied any wrongdoing, saying he acquired the Mercedes-Benz 4x4 vehicle legitimately. 

However, the Sunday Times reported that the vehicle was bought by European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, which is linked to Mercedes-Benz manufacturer Daimler Chrysler. He 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. 

Last weekend, EADS said it had "rendered assistance" to about 30 VIPs in the civil airlines, defence, electronic and related industries, as well as diplomatic and political fields, to obtain vehicles. The assistance included discounts and speeding up delivery ahead of waiting lists. 

With acknowledgment to the Mail and Guardian.