'Why do you support the criminals?'

As former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni began his jail term yesterday afternoon, the DA used the very institution he was convicted of defrauding to accuse the ruling party of supporting criminals rather than their victims.

It was left to Education Minister Naledi Pandor to defend Yengeni. She launched a scathing attack on the DA in reply.

During members' statements in the House, DA chief whip Douglas Gibson said it was a disgrace that senior ANC members, including Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool, had accompanied Yengeni to Pollsmoor prison.

"This 'hero's parade' sets an appalling example to ANC members and to the rest of the country, and flies in the face of President Thabo Mbeki's stance on corruption."

Gibson also criticised ANC MP and Western Cape provincial chairperson James Ngculu, who reportedly said he did not think Yengeni had committed a serious crime because he had not stolen, but only made use of discounts.

"By so doing, Ngculu has attempted to justify and minimise Yengeni's crime and deflect the public's attention away from the seriousness of Yengeni's transgressions.

"It is disgraceful and disappointing that senior figures in the ANC can treat Yengeni as a hero when they should in fact be using him as an example of how not to behave when in public office," Gibson said.

When he was heckled by ANC backbenchers, Gibson shouted: "Why do you support criminals, rather than the victims of crime?"

Among those who were apparently at Pollsmoor in solidarity with Yengeni was current ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe, who was not in the Assembly yesterday afternoon.

But Education Minister Naledi Pandor was quick to respond to Gibson.

She noted that the DA and its leadership had not fought against apartheid, nor had they been prepared "to lay down their lives or liberty in the interests of the oppressed of South Africa".

"They have no individual in their ranks that can be labelled a hero of the people. This is why the (ANC) Western Cape leadership did not desert Tony Yengeni in his hour of need."

She accused the DA of making "absolutely ridiculous" statements and added: "Your guilt makes you shout, because you know what I have said is absolutely true."

With acknowledgement to Angela Quintal and Cape Times.