Good friends helped pay for the newspaper advertisements taken out by ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni last week to put his side of the story of how he got his luxury 4x4 vehicle.

Weekend reports said Yengeni indicated there was "nothing sinister" in the way the advertisements had been paid for, adding that car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz had not contributed to the cost, estimated to be R250 000.

Yengeni said he had not discussed the decision to place the adverts with the ANC leadership in advance.

With  acknowledgement to Clive Leviey-Sawyer and The Star.