Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2007-01-21 Reporter: Myolisi Gophe

Ancestors Toasted with a Bucket of Beer

 

Publication 

Cape Argus

Date

2007-01-21

Reporter

 Myolisi Gophe

Web Link

www.capeargus.co.za

 

Tony Yengeni welcomed back from jail at Gugulethu feast

"May darkness be moved, let there be light".

These were the words used during a ceremony yesterday when convicted former MP Tony Yengeni held a traditional feast at his parents' Gugulethu home to thank his ancestors for looking after him while he was in jail.

And Yengeni, the former ANC chief whip convicted for fraud, must have felt he had been engulfed by darkness since his 47% discount for a luxury 4x4 was uncovered *1.

He was axed from Parliament and his attempts to overturn a court judgment that found him guilty of fraud failed. But with parole and a general amnesty, Yengeni served just four months of a four-year sentence.

As the Xhosa phrase on darkness and light was uttered, some neighbours, family members, friends and comrades hailed him with "Camagu!" (Amen!), while others muttered: "The sacrifice has been accepted."

The feast began on Friday afternoon, with cars of guests parked along NY1 near the Gugulethu Sports Complex and in adjoining streets.

The main ceremony was held in Yengeni's parents' home yesterday afternoon. Scores of people arrived, gathering at the Yengenis' home and across the road at the sports complex, where a white marquee had been erected.

Present yesterday were Danile Landingwe, members of the ANC Youth League, and Xolani Mkiva, former praise singer to Nelson Mandela.

Several security guards monitored the goings-on and the media was not allowed on the property.

The main ceremony took place indoors, and culminated when a group of woman emerged from the house, singing traditional songs, ululating and dancing around a basin filled with the cooked meat of a bullock slaughtered on Friday afternoon, and a bucket of umqombothi (traditional beer) prepared for Yengeni's Mfene clan.

With his son standing next to him holding the family spear, Yengeni's father Leslie told the gathering the family had gone through a difficult time, but with the sacrifice, they were thanking their ancestors for looking after his son in prison *2.

His aunt reminded those present that before he went to jail Tony Yengeni had said "Lord forgive them because they know not what they are doing" *3, a reference to the family's belief that despite the former MP's conviction for fraud, he was not guilty *4.

With acknowledgements to Myolisi Gophe and Cape Argus.


*1       No, he was engulfed by darkness since trying to cover up and lie about the discount he received from Micky Woerfel of EADS, part shareholder of Daimler-Chrysler Aerospace and 30% shareholder of Reutech Radar Systems of Stellenbosch.

Many others also got similar discounts, but they have never seen the darkness.


*2      It wasn't their ancestors for looking after his son in prison, it was members of the Department of Correctional Services.


*3      If we were not a secular country, he might get another 30 years for this pronouncement.


*4      The former MP pleaded guilty to fraud, therefore he was not not guilty.