Cape Town - Political parties called for former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni's resignation from Parliament on Thursday, following his fraud conviction in Pretoria in terms of a plea agreement with the state earlier in the day.

Democratic Alliance spokesperson Raenette Taljaard said the DA welcomed Yengeni's admission that he did not act in accordance with the high standard of conduct expected of MPs and that he was guilty of fraud.

"His admission is all the more significant, as he accepted a benefit while being the chair of Parliament's joint standing committee on defence," she said.

Yengeni had ended months of tactical ploys and attempts to prevent the legal process from taking its course.

Now that the time had come for him to mount a proper defence, "he has none to offer", Taljaard said.

While Yengeni's "seemingly honest" attempt at seeking a plea agreement with the state was a step forward, it was regrettable that the state had opted to drop the corruption charge as part of the plea agreement.

"Mr Yengeni's conduct in this matter has been a disgrace. The ANC will have to deal with these new developments and consider Mr Yengeni's position in Parliament," she said.

'Plea bargaining exercise'

New National Party spokesperson Sheila Camerer said the "on/off Yengeni plea bargaining exercise" had at last borne fruit, and he should now resign.

"Politicians who lie to Parliament have only one avenue - they must exit the arena," she said.

The ANC should also rethink Yengeni's "apparent resurgence" within its ranks, particularly his membership of the national executive committee (NEC).

"By his own admission he has been guilty of disgraceful fraudulent conduct and should have no place in the political life of a respectable organisation," Camerer said.

The Pan Africanist Congress' Patricia de Lille, who first raised the allegations of corruption in the arms deal, said she had been vindicated and was happy Yengeni had "confessed to his deeds".

"It is a pity that as a Member of Parliament and chief whip of the ANC he did not see the need to speak the truth two years ago. Instead he opted to take our already overburdened judicial system down a lengthy and costly road," she said.

Pieter Groenewald of the Freedom Front said by pleading guilty only at the last minute, Yengeni had wasted valuable taxpayers' money.

Yengeni should be held responsible for his actions and resign as an MP. His behaviour was an embarrassment for all MPs.

"The National Prosecuting Authority must be commended for their hard work in pursuing justice in the name of the public. This serves as proof that this body is not open for intimidation which could possibly come from pursuing someone in a powerful position," Groenewald said.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said the UDM "rejects the plea agreement reached" between Yengeni and the state, which resulted in his acquittal on the main charge of corruption.

"We are of the view that a fair trial did not take place where the merits of the case could be heard and where the truth could be exposed."

'Acquitted through backdoor'

If this was the transformation of the justice system the minister boasted about, there was no hope for bringing criminals to book.

"As far as the UDM is concerned Mr Yengeni was acquitted through a 'backdoor' ignoring the greater sense of justice," Holomisa said.

The ANC in Parliament reserved comment for now.

ANC parliamentary spokesperson Cuba Mahaye said the party's chief whip, Nathi Nhleko, first wanted a "full briefing" from Yengeni.

He also needed to study the actual court records and documents. Comment would then be forthcoming, Mahaye said.

Earlier on Thursday, Yengeni was found guilty of fraud by a Pretoria magistrate in terms of a plea agreement with the state.

In return, he was acquitted of corruption. The charges related to a 47% discount he received on a luxury 4X4 Mercedes Benz in 1998.

In a written plea explanation handed to Pretoria's Commercial Crimes Court, Yengeni admitted he acted in breach of his public duties and with the intent to defraud Parliament.

Arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence are to start on Monday.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and News24.