The real issue behind Tony Yengeni's fall from grace is not that he resigned from Parliament, but that he took so long to do so.

Despite unprecedented pressure across all opposition parties, the media, civil society and even the speaker of Parliament, the African National Congress (ANC) chose to bluster and filibuster for almost a fortnight while it closed ranks around a cheat and a crook who had pleaded guilty to fraud and admitted lying to Parliament. They capped this shameful episode by condoning his disgraceful appearance at the opening of Parliament.

Tony Yengeni may have paid the price for misleading the house, but the ANC still has much to answer for in their role in besmirching the integrity of the institution of Parliament and those members who seek to serve it.

With acknowledgements to Mark Lowe, MP, from the Democratic Alliance and Business Day.