Since Tony Yengeni's admission of guilt, the Sunday Times has published an interesting collage contrasting its own news reports pointing to his corruption and the exculpatory statements of various ANC ministers as well as the Speaker of parliament herself. It hardly encourages confidence in the party's commitment to clean government when one of their own is accused of wrongdoing. The paper has also published allegations that Mac Maharaj, while Minister of Transport, received significant donations from Shabir Shaik (who is under investigation from the Scorpions for his role in the arms deal), which he failed to declare in the parliamentary register.

The number of high-profile political figures fingered by on-going allegations is disquieting former Minister of Defence the late Joe Modise, former ANC Chief Whip Tony Yengeni, Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and now former Minister of Transport Mac Maharaj. Modise is beyond the reach of earthly prosecution and Yengeni has admitted guilt on a lesser charge of fraud to avoid the greater one of corruption. But the Maharaj allegations give point to the headline to this paper's first editorial last Saturday - "A Persistent Smell".

Clearly there is much digging to be done to get to the causes of that smell. It will require not only investigative journalism but the committed efforts of the agencies of the state - the Scorpions and the office of the Public Protector.

With acknowledgements to The Natal Witness.