Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2006-11-13 Reporter: Wendy Jasson da Costa Reporter:

Booze and BMWs as Yengeni Parties with Friends on First Weekend Parole

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2006-11-13

Reporter

 Karen Breytenbach

Web Link

www.capetimes.co.za

 

Tony Yengeni threw a party for his friends yesterday afternoon shortly before the end of his first weekend from Malmesbury Prison.

Then he left his Milnerton home at 3.40pm in a black Range Rover Sport, followed by an entourage in other luxury cars, despite his check-in deadline of 3pm.

Earlier yesterday the former ANC chief whip was photographed beer in hand in his garden in the presence of friends enjoying drinks. Parole conditions generally prohibit the use of alcohol.

As glamorous friends arrived in dribs and drabs after lunch, luxury BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes and SUVs were lined up in front of the modest cream-coloured house on the corner of Wilmot and Fitzpatrick streets.

Guests were seen entering Yengeni's home clutching bottles of Hennessy cognac, whisky and Haute Cabriere wine.

Two of Yengeni's friends came outside to bring the Cape Times a bottle of Fanta.

One friend, who identified himself only as Songezo, said: "Please, guys, Tony just wants to enjoy himself with his friends and family. Jail is not a nice place.

"Yesterday he enjoyed the meat at Mzoli's Place in Gugs and now he's just relaxing at home. Give us a break. Don't write negative things."

When the Cape Times phoned to find out how he was enjoying his weekend, Yengeni paused and said: "No comment, no comment."

In a statement, Correctional Services spokesman Manelisi Wolela said: "Suggestions of favouritism may either be motivated by myopic political point-scoring or deliberate efforts to play ignorance as the legislative and regulatory provisions are accessible to anyone serious about understanding how a correctional system is run in any country."

Asked yesterday to say what Yengeni's specific parole conditions were, Wolela said: "Those are operational matters, dealt with by the Malmesbury area commissioner. We are not going to give you the operational details."

Wolela then refused to tell the Cape Times who the area commissioner was.

"I won't let you hound him," he said.

Prison officials said Commissioner Sipho Manqele was not available for comment.

Wolela did, however, confirm that Yengeni had to report back to prison at 3pm and that he was not allowed to drink alcohol.

He would not say whether Yengeni would be breathalysed at the prison.

"If there is evidence (of violation of parole), the area commissioner will follow it up," he said.

The Democratic Alliance and the African Christian Democratic Party on Sunday said Yengeni's treatment created the impression that the ANC was not serious about fighting corruption.

James Selfe, DA spokesperson on correctional services, said: "The decision to grant Yengeni a weekend pass, until he is released in early January, sends the wrong message to the South African public and only serves to reinforce the perception that the government is failing to fight corruption."

Hansie Louw, ACDP provincial leader, said: "By what ethic does this government live?

"Forgive me if I am wrong, but the more I see these people operate, the more it seems to me that they see nothing wrong in stealing, only in being caught out. God help this nation. We are rotten to the bone," said Louw.

With acknowledgement to Karen Breytenbach and Cape Times.