Publication: Business Day Issued: Date: 2006-11-14 Reporter: Wyndham Hartley Reporter:

Yengeni On Carpet for Parole Violations

 

Publication 

Business Day
Date 2006-11-14

Reporter

 Wyndham Hartley

Web Link

www.businessday.co.za

 

Cape Town ­ Former African National Congress (ANC) chief whip and convicted fraudster Tony Yengeni is to face a correctional services hearing to investigate violations of his parole at the weekend as calls for him to be harshly punished for the violations reached new heights.

Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour added his voice to those slamming Yengeni for arriving back at Malmesbury Prison an hour late after a “weekend parole”, and for allegedly drinking alcohol while on that parole.

Balfour said he was disappointed at Yengeni’s behaviour.

Weekend paroles are used to accustomise prisoners to life outside as they approach release. They normally run from Friday morning until 3pm on Sunday.

Several media reports said Yengeni was an hour late getting back to prison and some newspapers published pictures of him drinking beer with friends.

The correctional services department has been under almost constant fire in recent weeks.

In addition to claims that it gave preferential treatment to Yengeni and now Schabir Shaik, the department has been criticised for releasing an edited version of the Jali commission report and for qualified audit reports for the past five years.

Correctional services department spokesman Manelisi Wolela confirmed that Yengeni would appear before a hearing.

Democratic Alliance MP James Selfe said Yengeni’s behaviour was outrageous and “his flagrant disregard for the rules governing his parole indicates his lack of remorse for the crimes he has committed and proves that he thinks he is above the law”.

“This behaviour should be punished to the fullest extent of the law and Yengeni should have his rights to future weekend passes cancelled,” he said.

Selfe said the fact that Yengeni got a weekend parole so soon after entering prison sent the wrong message about the fight against corruption in SA.

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP Sybil Seaton called for a special investigation.

“The IFP would like Balfour to tell SA why two ANC comrades, Yengeni and Shaik, are receiving special treatment in prison. They are criminals and should be treated as such,” Seaton said.

Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said if the department was serious about rehabilitating Yengeni, then he should be banned from receiving another weekend off.

“If this kind of bad behaviour continues, then the law would require that Yengeni complete his four-year sentence,” De Lille said.

With acknowledgements to Wyndham Hartley and Business Day.