‘Block believed anyone close to Zuma was untouchable’ - ANC 15-year jail sentence welcomed

The 15-year sentence given to African National Congress (ANC) heavyweight John Block for fraud and money laundering has been welcomed.

Block and his co-accused Trifecta director Christo Scholtz were sentenced to 15 years in prison each on Tuesday in the Northern Cape High Court in Kimberley.

In October last year‚ Block was convicted of fraud and money laundering relating to the leasing of buildings to the Northern Cape social development department‚ which rented buildings owned by the Trifecta Group.

The verdict sends a strong signal at a time when there are perceptions that the state is soft on corruption.

The Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation‚ Lieutenant-General Berning Ntlemeza‚ thanked “Hawks members who worked diligently during the lengthy investigation”.

He added: “We hope that this will serve as a deterrent to all corrupt civil servants and that it is also indicative of the excellent relationship between the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority.”

The Congress of the People’s Dennis Bloem described Block as “a wolf in a sheep skin” who “believed that he was too high up in the ANC echelon to go to jail”.

Bloem said that his party hopes President Jacob Zuma “is taking lessons from John Block’s example — no matter how much you run away from the law‚ it will catch you”.

“He believed that anyone who was close to Mr Zuma was untouchable‚” he added.

“We have no doubt that sooner or later many others‚ like John Block‚ will find themselves behind bars wearing prison orange uniforms because of greed.”

Economic Freedom Fighters national chairperson Dali Mpofu also intended his comment as a warning to Zuma‚ referencing the 783 fraud and corruption charges the country’s leader potentially has to face in court.

Dali Mpofu ?@AdvDali–Mpofu tweeted: “If the minimum sentence for 1 count of corruption is 15 years.. He who has 783 counts should be sentenced to 11 745 years! #BlockZumaNow.”