Cape Town - Parliament's joint ethics committee has deplored "in the strongest terms possible" the damage done to public trust in Parliament by former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni.

In its final report on the matter after meeting on Friday, the committee unanimously agreed that Yengeni breached Parliament's Code of Conduct, but that the complaint against him cannot be pursued because he is no longer an MP.

Yengeni quit his seat in the National Assembly on Wednesday last week amid mounting pressure after acknowledging that he had misled Parliament with the intention to defraud it.

Last month he pleaded guilty in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court to fraud relating to a 47% discount he received in 1998 on a luxury 4x4 vehicle from the head of a company involved in the arms deal. He is to be sentenced this month.

In a special statement to the House in March 2001, Yengeni claimed he had bought the vehicle legitimately and it had not been necessary to disclose it in the register of member's interests.

However, his subsequent acknowledgement in court that he failed to disclose the discount saw the ethics committee reopen its inquiry into the matter.

In its report the committee, chaired by Luwellyn Landers (ANC), said on the basis of Yengeni's admission in court, his continued participation in Parliament would have been inappropriate.

"Mr Yengeni's resignation is therefore appropriate. In addition, the committee is of the view that Mr Yengeni breached the Code of Conduct. Furthermore, the committee deplores, in the strongest terms possible, the damage done to public trust in Parliament by Mr Yengeni."

The committee further noted that in its consideration of the complaint against Yengeni, a review of the Code of Conduct and some of its procedures is necessary.

These include guidelines in the code regarding discounts received by MPs, clarifying the rules on the acceptance of gifts constituting a conflict of interests, developing rules to deal with unco-operative MPs, assessing the capacity and powers the committee needs to fulfil its mandate in terms of the joint rules, and a review of the sub judice rule and the role and functions of the registrar.

The report will now be tabled in the Assembly for adoption.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Natal Witness.