So when does the punishment fit the crime? It certainly doesn't in this instance. When will people, irrespective of race, creed, colour, social standing or rank all be treated in exactly the same manner. Why is it that people who have "connections" can get away with what they have done, whislt others get to rot in a prison cell? How long are we as South Africans going to tolerate this kind of behaviour? The most frustrating aspect of all of this is - what can we as individuals do about this!

The only comfort that I can offer, is that we need to continue to vote for the opposition, both nationally and also at municiple level. A strong opposition will get a whole lot more results than one that is just a token jesture! We need to back our political parties up and in so doing keep them "honest" as well.

Let's be honest now, of all of us who read this article when it first appeared - who nodded and said "Look what's happening! It's terrible" etc, etc, etc. Yes, I can see all of you nodding your heads in agreement. Now, how many of you actually sent a letter off documenting you disproval? None of you I'll bet. So South Africa, let's make a change - let's do something about it, even if it is just a letter to the newspapers, or to our local representative. If we all take as much time to do something about an issue as we do to moan and bitch about it, we would make such a difference it would probably scare us!

Come on South Africa, let's make 2007, the year that we bring about change! I dare you!

Regards

Nikki

November 13 2006 at 04:28AM

By Karen BreytenbachTony Yengeni threw a party for his friends on Sunday afternoon shortly before the end of his first weekend away from Malmesbury Prison. He left his Milnerton home at 3.40pm in a black Range Rover Sport, followed by an entourage in other luxury cars, despite his check-in deadline of 3pm.

Earlier on Sunday, the former ANC chief whip was photographed, beer in hand, in his garden in the presence of friends enjoying drinks. Parole conditions generally prohibit the use of alcohol.

As glamorous friends arrived in dribs and drabs after lunch, luxury BMWs, Mercedes-Benzes and SUVs were lined up in front of the modest cream-coloured house on the corner of Wilmot and Fitzpatrick streets. Guests were seen entering Yengeni's home clutching bottles of Hennessy cognac, whisky and Haute Cabriere wine.

Two of Yengeni's friends came outside to bring the Cape Times a bottle of Fanta. One friend, who identified himself only as Songezo, said: "Please, guys, Tony just wants to enjoy himself with his friends and family. Jail is not a nice place. "Yesterday he enjoyed the meat at Mzoli's Place in Gugs and now he's just relaxing at home. Give us a break. Don't write negative things."

When the Cape Times phoned to find out how he was enjoying his weekend, Yengeni paused and said: "No comment, no comment." In a statement, correctional services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said: "Suggestions of favouritism may either be motivated by myopic political point-scoring or deliberate efforts to play ignorance as the legislative and regulatory provisions are accessible to anyone serious about understanding how a correctional system is run in any country."

Asked on Sunday to say what Yengeni's specific parole conditions were, Wolela said: "Those are operational matters, dealt with by the Malmesbury area commissioner. We are not going to give you the operational details." Wolela then refused to tell the Cape Times who the area commissioner was. "I won't let you hound him," he said. Prison officials said Commissioner Sipho Manqele was not available for comment. Wolela did, however, confirm that Yengeni had to report back to prison at 3pm and that he was not allowed to drink alcohol. He would not say whether Yengeni would be breathalysed at the prison. "If there is evidence (of violation of parole), the area commissioner will follow it up," he said.

The Democratic Alliance and the African Christian Democratic Party on Sunday said Yengeni's treatment created the impression that the ANC was not serious about fighting corruption. James Selfe, DA spokesperson on correctional services, said: "The decision to grant Yengeni a weekend pass, until he is released in early January, sends the wrong message to the South African public and only serves to reinforce the perception that the government is failing to fight corruption." Hansie Louw, ACDP provincial leader, said: "By what ethic does this government live? "Forgive me if I am wrong, but the more I see these people operate, the more it seems to me that they see nothing wrong in stealing, only in being caught out. God help this nation. We are rotten to the bone," said Louw.

This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Times on November 13, 2006