The saga of former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni and his much-publicised luxury 4x4 vehicle came to a head on Wednesday when Yengeni bowed to political pressure - from inside and outside the ANC - and resigned from Parliament.

The controversial MP handed his resignation to the ANC leadership on Wednesday in the wake of widespread criticism from opposition parties and divisions within the ANC over the issue.

The ANC welcomed Yengeni's resignation, saying it was the right thing to do in the circumstances. ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama insisted that Yengeni was not "pushed" to resign, while ANC chief whip Nathi Nhleko said: "It was expected of him, which is why it was the right decision from his side."

While welcoming Yengeni's resignation, the Democratic Alliance and other opposition parties had stern words for the ANC, accusing it of having dragged its feet on the matter. The DA said it hopes the ANC will learn from this "disgraceful episode".

PAC MP Patricia de Lille responded to Yengeni's resignation with strong words for the ANC - and warm words of congratulations to National Assembly Speaker Frene Ginwala for taking a brave stand within the ANC.

De Lille, who several years ago called for a judicial commission of inquiry into the arms deal, also patted herself on the back, saying she has been vindicated. "Even a majority in Parliament cannot suppress the truth," De Lille said.

Yengeni's announcement follows his fraud conviction in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court last month where he pleaded guilty to fraud and admitted he received a 47% discount on a 4x4 Mercedes Benz from the head of a company involved in the arms deal.

His decision followed a public call earlier this week from ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe for Yengeni to do the honourable thing and resign, as well as a similar call by Ginwala.

Yengeni's resignation came hours before the National Assembly was scheduled to consider a draft resolution - in the name of Nhleko - to set up a multi-party committee to establish whether Yengeni deliberately misled the National Assembly.

The committee was to consider Yengeni's special statement to the National Assembly on March 28 last year in which he claimed that he purchased the vehicle legitimately - and his subsequent guilty plea last month to fraud, and his admission that he convinced his co-accused, Michael Woerfel, to arrange the deal on a Mercedes Benz ML320. Woerfel was head of the Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG's Pretoria office. Yengeni also admitted that his misrepresentation was made with the intent to defraud Parliament.

Lateon Wednesday, the draft resolution fell away when Ginwala announced Yengeni's decision in the National Assembly to applause from the benches.

Yengeni, who resigned as chief whip about a year ago, would not comment on his resignation from Parliament.

Responding to Yengeni's resignation, DA chief whip Douglas Gibson accused the ANC of "always closing ranks around the corrupt and the crooks".

"Instead of setting an example to the nation, the ANC always sides with those who have transgressed and never seems to side with the honest people of our country. The message which goes out to the people is that the ANC does not act quickly and firmly and unflinchingly against those who should be disciplined. Instead, the ANC delays and delays and delays, hoping that the matter can by minimised or explained away or settled behind closed doors."

Gibson said Yengeni should have resigned the moment he confessed to lying to Parliament with intent to defraud. "Upon his failure to resign, the ANC should have used its power to fire him immediately.

"Instead it has been forced to act under duress and pressure from the opposition, from civil society, the media and the Speaker. Confidence in Parliament has been undermined because there was no prompt response from the leadership of his party.

"The ANC and all parties need to learn from this disgraceful episode. Swift action by leaders retains and restores public confidence in politicians when the few corrupt ones transgress."

Gibson said MPs need to know that if one deliberately misleads the House, there is a heavy price to pay.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said: "The matter should serve as a lesson to other MPs that it is a serious offence to mislead Parliament."

The African Christian Democratic Party commended Yengeni for stepping down, saying he has done the honourable thing.

"His resignation was long overdue," said ACDP president Kenneth Meshoe. "Yengeni has done the honourable thing and has saved the ANC government embarrassment by doing so.

"What he did was unacceptable and the way that the ANC rallied around him trying to defend his actions was indefensible," he said.

Inkatha Freedom Party MP L.R. Mbuyazi also hailed Yengeni's decision as an "honourable" decision. "It allows Parliament to leave the matter in the courts," she said.

With acknowledgements to Sue Segar and The Natal Witness.