The sudden resignation from parliament of former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni was the result of an intervention by the ANC's top brass, including President Thabo Mbeki.

A top ANC source said Yengeni, 41, met its officials on Monday last week and it was made clear to him that he should do the honourable thing and quit parliament.

His resignation was expected within a few days after the meeting. Although Mbeki was not at the meeting, it is understood that he was firm that Yengeni should resign after he had pleaded guilty to fraud.

This explains ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe's statement - issued after the meeting - that Yengeni's conscience would guide him and he would make the right decision.

It was left to National Assembly Speaker Dr Frene Ginwala to formally announce to the National Assembly on Wednesday that she had received a letter from Yengeni stating: "I forthwith resign from parliament."

Earlier this week, in an interview with Independent Newspapers, Ginwala proposed that Yengeni be called to appear before a full plenary session of the house to explain his apparent lies to it on March 28 last year.

The ANC vehemently opposed this, arguing that while Yengeni should explain himself, he should appear before a smaller, multiparty committee.

The ANC has welcomed Yengeni's resignation and said he would face an ANC national disciplinary hearing once he was sentenced for fraud on March 19.

Yengeni himself would not comment on Wednesday.

His resignation ends weeks of controversy and speculation, with the ANC suffering immense embarrassment during the saga.

Yengeni's apparent greed has cost him dearly.

For a discount of R167 387 on a Mercedes-Benz ML320 4x4, Yengeni has lost an annual salary of R470 000 and appears set to lose more.

The always immaculately dressed Yengeni admitted, when he entered into a plea bargain with the state, that besides his political career being on the rocks, he was facing financial ruin. In the plea bargain, the state dropped charges of corruption against him, and he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of fraud.

Explaining his finances, Yengeni said he took home a monthly salary of R17 000, of which R7 000 went to service his mortgage bond, R4 000 was used to pay for his cars, another R4 000 was used for school fees and only R3 000 remained for groceries and other expenses, including his expensive clothing. His salary, he said, was his only source of income.

Now more woes appear set to befall the man previously seen as a crown prince in ANC circles.

Yengeni - who will be remembered for giving up so much for so little - is yet to settle a debt of R311 000 he incurred after he requested Ayanda Mbanga Communications to publish his denials of any wrongdoing. The adverts, placed in Sunday newspapers, cost R283 000.

The amounts came to light when an invoice from Chuene Kwinana Motsatse attorneys, Yengeni's initial attorneys, to Zama Resources was leaked to the media.

It is believed Yengeni owned about a million shares at Zama, a company that won a controversial multimillion forestry tender which was later cancelled amid corruption allegations.

Yengeni reportedly still owes R800 000 to Chuene Kwinana Motsatse, who opted out of the case after Yengeni failed to pay.

Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson said last night that in terms of rules governing remuneration of parliamentarians, Yengeni would not be paid his pension until he was 50 years old.

With acknowledgements to Makhudu Sefara, Rapule Tabane, Sapa and The Star.