Patricia de Lille, the Pan Africanist Congress chief whip, says she is in possession of the name of a senior African National Congress official who will be exposed for their part in the controversial governmental arms deal of R43-billion currently under investigation. 

De Lille, who spoke to The Mercury after returning from her party's national congress in Bloemfontein, said she was "not tempted to reveal the name because I have learned that that could only bog down the investigation (into the arms deal)". 

However, she said: "I am quite sure the name will be revealed very soon." 

'The most senior ANC official in parliament should lead by example' 

De Lille also criticised ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni for his failure to answer questions from parliament's ethics committee on how he acquired a luxury Mercedes-Benz and about his failure to disclose ownership of a luxury house. 

It is alleged that Yengeni acquired the vehicle through a company with links to the arms deal. He was asked to explain why he failed to declare the vehicle and a home in Tygerhof in the register of members' interests. 

Yengeni did not do so, questioning instead the committee's right to hear the matter. 

He was furnished with a second letter from the committee insisting that he reply. It is suspected that he did not do so. 

De Lille said Yengeni's alleged lack of response was "shocking". She said: "The most senior ANC official in parliament should be aware of his responsibility. He should lead by example." 

De Lille said that while she was reluctant to become involved in a trial through the media about the arms deal, she remained confident that the truth about the deal - and "which ANC officials were involved" - would surface "very soon". 

With acknowledgment to Gustav Thiel, The Mercury and Independent Online.