Even though convicted fraudster Tony Yengeni has a drunk driving charge pending against him, he can fly across the country on ANC business because he is a "model parolee" who requires almost no supervision.

The Department of Correctional Services says because the newly elected ANC national executive committee and national working committee member had proven to be a "model parolee", his parole conditions have been relaxed.

This will allow Yengeni, who spent four months in jail in 2006 and is on parole until September, to do party work.

And yesterday at a joint press conference called by the uMkonto weSizwe Military Veterans' Association and the South African Security Forces Union at the ANC's provincial office in Cape Town, he was defended as a leader of the people and a hero of the struggle, who had not had a fair trial and had been "conned" by then National Prosecuting Authority boss Bulelani Ngcuka.

"He can lead the people," said Mbulelo Mabala, national deputy chairman of the Veterans' Association.

Yengeni's parole conditions, after serving time for receiving a huge discount on his 4x4 Mercedes from a company involved in the controversial arms deal, placed him under house detention and restricted his movements to the Cape Town magisterial district.

But Correctional Services said because Yengeni had proven to be a "model parolee" his parole conditions had been drastically relaxed.

The convicted fraudster was a "phase-five-level parolee" and as such his parole officer may only want to see him "about twice a month" so it was possible for Yengeni to fly to Polokwane, or to ANC president Jacob Zuma's Christmas party in KwaZulu-Natal, or to Luthuli House, the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg.

Despite the charge of drunk driving in Goodwood last month, Ximiya said Yengeni was not in contravention of his parole conditions, as he had not yet been convicted of drunk driving. He is to appear in court again in March.

With acknowledgements to Lynette Johns and Cape Argus.