A new row has broken out over the alleged breaches by controversial politician Tony Yengeni of the conditions of his house detention after his arrest for alleged drink-driving.

The possible breach of Yengeni's parole conditions was under investigation, Correctional Services Ministry spokesman Manelisi Wolela said yesterday.

Depending on the investigation and its outcome, the consequences of the arrest range from amendments to Yengeni's house detention to actually revoking it.

Wolela said the person responsible for "managing or supervising" Yengeni would have to gather information about the incident.

This would go to the department and the parole board before a ruling could be made on his fate.

But even before investigations begin, Novela Potelwa, the spokeswoman for provincial police commissioner Mzwandile Petros, today rejected reports that Yengeni had called him for help after his arrest.

Goodwood station commissioner Siphiwo Hewana said Yengeni had been arrested at about 9pm on Sunday and held at Goodwood police station for four hours before being granted R500 bail.

Detailing the accident that led to drink-driving allegations, Hewana said Yengeni turned a corner from Giel Basson Drive into Voortrekker Road. His car swerved and landed on an island next to a patrol van.

The police had gone to investigate. "They smelled alcohol on his breath, but he denied drinking," Hewana said.

Yengeni had been arrested and taken for blood tests at the Goodwood police station.

Hewana said the blood test results were due on March 19, when Yengeni was due to appear in court on drink-driving charges.

Asked about the suggestion in a morning newsaper today that Yengeni had called Petros, Potelwa said this morning: "That is not true at all. No call was made to the commissioner by Mr Tony Yengeni - whoever the sources are, they are telling lies."

Yengeni had been dealt with "by the book - just as you do in drunken driving cases".

"He got bail, pending the results of the blood tests that were taken. Due process was followed."

Hewana told the Cape Argus this morning that Yengeni had made a call from his cellphone while at the police station but he was not sure to whom, although "about an hour later, his wife arrived at the station."

After Yengeni's release from prison this year after serving five months of a four-year sentence, authorities at first refused to disclose details of his release conditions. But in the face of possible court action, after the Cape Argus launched a bid under the Freedom of Information Act, the conditions were released to the paper, and later in Parliament.

These revealed Yengeni had been placed under house detention - "that portion of the day or night when he does not work and is compelled to be at home".

He is not allowed to leave the City of Cape Town magisterial district without permission from the head of Community Corrections.

He is not permitted to "misuse alcohol or abuse drugs", an drugs may only be prescribed by a doctor.

"His conditions stipulate that if he is suspected of misusing alcohol, he must be subjected to blood tests," the statement says.

"If he refuses, it will be assumed he had broken his correctional supervision conditions."

Officials of Correctional Services reportedly visited Yengeni's home twice yesterday.

After news of Yengeni's arrest broke yesterday, the DA's James Selfe said he believed strongly that there was "prima facie evidence available which, in and of itself, constitutes a breach of Mr Yengeni's parole conditions, and on the basis of this, his conditions must be reviewed and possibly tightened with a view to ensuring he complies with the conditions of his parole".

The FF Plus said in a statement: "Correctional Services should act immediately and put Yengeni back in jail, as an exception can not be made just because he is a high- profile person."

Additional reporting by Sapa

With acknowledgements to Murray Williams, Andisiwe Makinana and Cape Argus.