John Block’s arrest warrant cancelled, bail reinstated

THE R50,000 bail of former ANC Northern Cape provincial chairperson John Block was reinstated this week after he presented a medical certificate on March 18 to explain his absence from a previous court appearance.

A warrant for his arrest was issued after he failed to appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on March 4.

The charges relate to a R51 million tender for the Kimberley Mental Hospital, which was awarded to Babereki Consulting Engineers CC by the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works in 2003. Construction took more than 14 years to complete, with the final cost exceeding R2.1 billion.

Block and his co-accused - the former head of department (HOD) at the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works, Patience Mercia Mokhali, and the director of Babereki Consulting Engineers CC, Tshegolekae Motaung - are facing charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering, and contraventions of the Engineering Professions Act and the Public Finance Management Act.

Block’s defence submitted an inquiry in terms of Section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act to investigate undue delays in the case, which has yet to go to trial despite the investigation spanning 20 years.

The defence has been required to pay for voluminous documents, with the first batch costing R53,820.58 and an additional R900,000 for 5,000 drawing plans or R200,000 for electronic copies.

Block has pleaded poverty, stating that he cannot afford these exorbitant costs. The court proposed that he appoint Legal Aid SA so that the 106,274-page docket can be made available for free by the State.

Block's legal representative, Lulama Lobi, is acting on a pro bono basis. 

The accused are seeking to have the matter struck off the roll and re-enrolled when the State is ready to proceed.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said Block's sick note was accepted by the court.

“The warrant for his arrest was cancelled and his bail reinstated," said Senokoatsane.

He added that the matter was postponed until June 2 for an inquiry in terms of section 342A to hear arguments for the application lodged by the accused.