ANALYSIS: ‘Tony Yengeni Moment’ Haunts Ailing Local Government

LUCAS LEDWABA

IT might be a long forgotten incident now – but the image of jubilant ANC comrades and cabinet ministers carrying a jail bound Tony Yengeni on their shoulders like a conquering hero of sorts continues to define the ruling party’s attitude towards wrong doing.

The scene outside the Pollsmoor prison back in August 2006 was reminiscent of a celebration marking a really significant achievement. Comrades sang in jubilation, carrying Yengeni, who was to begin serving a four year jail term after being convicted of misleading parliament.

Cabinet ministers and senior ANC leaders rushed to the jail’s entrance to give Yengeni a hero’s send-off behind bars.

Just six months later, the former uMkhonto we Sizwe commander and MP was a free man.

Fast forward to 2020 and the country’s municipalities are in ICU. Parliamentarians are throwing their hands up in frustration at the seemingly endless decline into the abyss