Hero’s welcome for ‘the Boss’

SUPPORTERS of former ANC provincial chairperson John Block gave him a hero’s welcome during his court appearance in the city this week.

There was a strong security presence in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on August 1 where Block was granted bail of R50,000.

Block was the MEC for Transport, Roads and Public Works when a R51 million tender was awarded to Babereki Consulting Engineers for the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital project, which was labelled a “monument of corruption” by Premier Zamani Saul.

ALSO READ: John Block granted bail

He is facing charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

Members of the gallery affectionately greeted their “Boss” and chanted “viva ANC, viva” when he asked them "what is the latest?".

They took advantage of a brief adjournment to share a few laughs and exchange some small talk.

An elderly grandmother from Galeshewe said she had caught a taxi at 6am to show her support for the embattled former ANC provincial leader.

ALSO READ: Supporters call for Block to be freed

Block told the media that while he was happy that he had been granted bail, he believed that he was facing a “malicious prosecution” and advised that the State would have difficulty proving the allegations against him.

During the court proceedings, Block’s legal representative, advocate Rolivhuwa Nelwamondo, stated that his client had two passports that had not yet been returned to him by the Hawks.

“Therefore he is not a flight risk as he is not able to leave the country without his travel documents.”

He added that Block did not have any family or friends outside the Republic of South Africa.

“He doesn’t have anywhere to go. He loves his family and will always be with them. He is unemployed and has been incarcerated for almost five years.

“His incarceration has had a great impact on his wife, parents and children and has contributed towards his health condition as he suffers from diabetes and hypertension.”

Nelwamondo indicated that Block owned two houses that were valued at over R1 million each.

He stated that Block would not intimidate any witness and would even be “too afraid to talk to them”.

The State prosecutor, advocate Lentswe Setoute, pointed out that Block would only be eligible for parole for the Trifecta conviction on May 26, 2025, after serving half of his 15-year sentence.

He, however, did not oppose the bail application.

“There is no evidence that he will interfere with State witnesses. One of the bail conditions will be that he attends his court hearings religiously,” Setoute added.

Magistrate Kubashnie Padayachee found it “in the interests of justice” to grant Block bail.

She postponed the matter until August 10 when Block will appear via an audio-video recording from Upington Correctional Centre.

His co-accused - former HOD for Transport, Roads and Public Works, Patience Mokhali, and the director of Babereki Consulting Engineers CC, Tshegolekae Motaung, are expected to appear on the same date in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court.