The SA Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights says it fears the question of whether ANC bigwig Tony Yengeni has breached his parole conditions may be "swept under the carpet" by the Department of Correctional Services.

Joining the outcry over alleged preferential treatment given to the fraud parolee after his arrest on Sunday night on suspicion of drunken driving, Miles Bhudu, president of the organisation, said Yengeni had been treated with kid gloves by the justice system and received preferential treatment in prison.

Department of Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela has said an investigation is to be launched. The department would comment once it had received the findings, he said.

Dennis Bloem, chair of Parliament's portfolio committee on correctional services, said parole officers were doing "a great job".

Yengeni's parole conditions are that he may not misuse alcohol, may use only prescribed drugs, may not leave home except for work, and may not leave the Cape Town magisterial district without permission from the head of community corrections.

With acknowledgement to Cape Times.