Agb Adjunkspeaker, die agb Minister doen 'n beroep op die media en vra dat hulle tog nou die gevangene met rus moet laat en bietjie respek toon, sodat hy ook sy privaatheid in die gevangenis kan geniet. Die vraag is: as die media nie aan die hele aangeleentheid rondom Toni Yengeni soveel aandag gegee het nie, sou u as Minister dan nog opgetree het? Sou daar opgetree gewees het, as dit nie in die media bekend geword het dat hy sy paroolvoorwaardes oortree het nie? U doen skadebeheer op hierdie stadium.
Met hierdie aangeleentheid oor Toni Yengeni is die boodskap na buite en die sein wat die regering uitstuur dat as jy 'n ANC-lidmaatskapkaartjie het, sal jy bevoorregting en bevoordeling kry as jy in die gevangenis is. Toni Yengeni het nog nie eens tyd gehad om aan te pas in die gevangenis nie, toe moet hy alweer uitgaan om by die burgerlike lewe aan te pas. Dit is onaanvaarbaar. Dankie. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Deputy Speaker, the hon Minister is appealing to the media and asking them to please leave the prisoner in peace and to show a modicum of respect, so that he can also enjoy his privacy in prison. The question is: If the media had not paid so much attention to the whole matter concerning Toni Yengeni, would you - as the Minister - still have acted. Would steps have been taken if the contravention of his parole regulations had not been known in the media? You are doing damage control at this stage.
With this matter concerning Toni Yengeni the message and signal being sent out there by government is that if you have an ANC membership card you will receive preferential and favourable treatment if you are in prison. Toni Yengeni did not even have time to acclimatise to life in prison before he had to leave again to adjust to civilian life. It is unacceptable. Thank you. [Applause.]]