Former ANC Chief Whip Tony Yengeni has pleaded guilty to fraud charges in connection with the multi-billion rand arms deal in a move which could spell the end of his political career. But those who have watched the rise of the former "young lion" say: "Don't bet on it."

Tony Sithembiso Yengeni stepped onto the public stage as MK commander and went on to become a charismatic and unabashed populist. But he was also known as a "Gucci socialist" who flaunted his wealth and ill-gotten Mercedes 4x4. He said driving it was like "flying a jet".

The charges that would bring about his downfall stem from the early 90s. Yengeni faced a charge of corruption for allegedly buying a luxury 4x4 Mercedes at a 47% discount in return for using his influence to "market" the products of Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG or their SA companies linked to the arms deal in October 1998. He faced an alternative count of fraud.

Yengeni had always maintained his innocence and fiercely attacked the press, labelling it "unpatriotic".

In his position as chief whip of the ANC, according to a political analyst, he internalised an ANC style of leadership that was "discernably authoritarian", using his position to quash increasingly strident calls from within the ANC in parliament to have a rigorous investigation into the arms deal.

Courageous ANC MP Andrew Feinstein resigned after a series of attacks by the executive on parliament's public accounts committee, which was pushing for the inquiry.

Following an investigation by the Scorpions, he was arrested in October 2001 on fraud and corruption charges. He resigned as chief whip the following day but continued to dismiss the charges as "utter rubbish".

Yengeni's legal representative withdrew from his much-postponed trial after he was apparently owed R800 000 in legal fees. Yengeni is still an MP and earns more than R25 000 a month but he twice applied for and was denied legal aid earlier this year. He then said he would handle his own defence but yesterday, apparently at the end of his tether, he pleaded guilty.

Despite the trial and mounting evidence about complicity in the arms deal, Yengeni retained supporters and was re-elected to the ANC NEC at its December conference in Stellenbosch.

As he stood alone outside the DF Malan hall at Stellenbosch University soon after the election results were announced, I went over to speak to him. He seemed decidedly down but not out. Watch this space.

With acknowledgements to Andre Koopman and the Cape Times.