Former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni could have his parole revoked after he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

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

Depending on the investigation and its outcome, the consequences of the arrest range from amendments made to Yengeni's bail conditions to the revoking of his parole.

Wolela said the person responsible for "managing or supervising" Yengeni would have to gather information about the incident, which would then go to the department and to the parole board, before a pronouncement could be made on his fate.

Wolela said it was difficult to put a time frame on this process.

Yengeni was arrested in Goodwood, Cape Town, on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, it has been revealed.

Senior Superintendent Siphiwo Hewena, station commander at Goodwood police station, said Yengeni was arrested on Sunday evening along Giel Basson Drive after his black BMW swerved and landed on an island.

Police officers noticed the incident and stopped to investigate, when they smelled alcohol on his breath.

When asked whether he had been drinking, Yengeni said he had not and that he had taken flu medication.

Police were not convinced. Yengeni was then arrested and taken for blood tests.

Yengeni was detained at Goodwood Police Station for about four hours and released after being granted R500 bail.

Western Cape police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Billy Jones, however, could not confirm that the person arrested was Yengeni.

"We are not at liberty to implicate people by name until they have appeared in a court of law.

"We can only confirm that we have arrested a 53-year-old man … for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol," he said.

Yengeni is on parole after his 2003 conviction for defrauding Parliament by failing to disclose a 47% discount on a 4x4 Mercedes-Benz.

He lost an appeal against his four-year sentence, but spent a mere 20 weeks behind bars.

Parole conditions include a stipulation that Yengeni may not use liquor or drugs - other than those prescribed by a doctor - until September 23 next year, nor may he visit any place where liquor is consumed. If there was any suspicion he had been drinking, he would be subjected to a blood test.

Should he refuse to undergo the test, he would be deemed to have violated his correctional supervision.

DA correctional services spokesperson James Selfe called for a review of Yengeni's parole conditions.

"The DA strongly believes that there is prima facie evidence available which, in and of itself, constitutes a breach of Mr Yengeni's parole … his conditions must be reviewed and possibly tightened with the view to ensuring that he complies with the conditions of his parole," Selfe said.

Freedom Front Plus spokesperson on correctional services Pieter Groenewald said yesterday that if correctional services did not act immediately on the case, "it would be proof that preferential treatment is given to high-profile ANC members".

He called on the department to put Yengeni back in jail.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Star.