Speaking for the first time since he quit as the party's spokesman in February, Niehaus said he had had time to reflect on decisions he made and was busy with rehabilitation.

"When I ask for forgiveness for what I have done wrong, I do not do so by trying to accept a lack of responsibility. I do not want to escape my responsibility," he said.

"I want to be the person who made the decision to join the ANC when I was 19 and stuck with it. I don't want to be the person who made wrong decisions."

Niehaus was addressing journalists at the National Press Club in Pretoria. He resigned as the party's spokesman amid allegations of fraud, lies and deceit.

Sapa

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