TONY Yengeni, chief whip of the ANC in Parliament, was apparently six weeks ago ordered by the investigation teams into alleged irregularities in the R43bn arms deal to present evidence about certain "assets" that could be connected to the transactions, says Afrikaans daily Beeld. 

Yengeni's lawyer apparently said his schedule would only permit this to happen at the end of this month. Beeld said no confirmation could be obtained on Thursday of whether a date has been set. 

Sipho Ngwema, representative for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and Yengeni's representative, Dennis Cruywagen, said they had no record of such a summons.

Yengeni was allegedly summonsed according to Article 28 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act - the same article by which the PAC MP Patricia de Lille and party secretary-general Thami ka Plaatjie were summonsed this week to testify before the investigating teams. 

According to Ngwema, anyone ignoring such a summons could be arrested. He said De Lille and Ka Plaatjie's appearance in terms of the summons had been postponed until early May. 

Meanwhile the President of the PAC, Dr Stanley Mogoba, demanded that NPA Director Bulelani Ngcuka reveal whether Yengeni and a further six senior ANC members - former Minister of Defence Joe Modise, General Lambert Moloi and Tshepo Molai, both business partners and family members of Modise, and the Shaik brothers, Chippy, Mo and Shabir - had also been summonsed to testify before the investigating teams in connection with alleged irregularities.

Chippy Shaik is head of the Defence Force's weapons acquisition division, while his brothers apparently have business interests in certain of the counter-trade agreements and sub-contracts emerging from the arms deal. 

De Lille and Ka Plaatjie's summonses came after they threatened last week to reveal more names of senior ANC members who allegedly profited from the transactions. 

Mogoba accused the ANC of using the summonses to victimise PAC members and divert the attention of the public and media. 

Mogoba told Beeld that the PAC knew who the senior ANC members were, "but it is not for us to reveal the names. The PAC also does not have the mandate or the capability to further investigate the allegations of corruption."

He also emphasised his party's commitment to work with a "legal" investigating team, said Beeld. 

With acknowledgment to the Mail and Guardian.