Former ANC Northern Cape Provincial Chairperson John Block is a free man. Block was sentenced to fifteen years at the end of 2016 after being convicted of corruption and money laundering.
Kimberley – Former Northern Cape ANC provincial chairman, John Block, and the CEO of the Trifecta group of companies, Christo Scholtz, were each sentenced to an effective 15 years imprisonment in the Northern Cape High Court on Tuesday after a four-year-long trial.
The court found that Block had used his power and influence to get the government to lease properties at prices of over a hundred million ran in each instance from the Trifecta group of companies. The properties were leased in Kimberley, Kuruman and Upington among others in exchange for kickbacks.
Trifecta CEO Christo Scholtz was tried alongside the then powerful politicians and was also sentenced to 15 years. The correctional services department cited good behaviour as a reason for Block’s early release.
“The Offender Rehabilitation Path plays an important role when the inmate’s suitability for parole placement is being considered by the Correctional Services Parole Board.
“Mr Block was an active inmate, having participated in a number of correctional programmes, and went on to obtain a Diploma in Business Management”, said spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo in a statement.
Nxumalo said Block also benefited from a special remission of sentences of 2019, 2020 and 2023.
Block also served as MEC for several terms.