John Block (South African politician)

John Fikile Block (born 10 February 1968)[1] was the Provincial Chairman of the African National Congress in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa, and was a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism in the Northern Cape Provincial Government.[2] Block was found guilty of fraud, corruption and money laundering by the Northern Cape High Court in 2015.[3] In December 2016 he was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment.[4]

John Block
Provincial Chairman, ANC
MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism in the Northern Cape Provincial Government
In office
2004 – 16 October 2015
Personal details
Born (1968-02-10) 10 February 1968
NationalitySouth African
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Spouse(s)Noluthando Block

Political career

Block was Chairman of the African National Congress Youth League, Upington Branch, from 1991 to 1992.

Block became a Member Provincial Legislature in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in 1994. In 1999 he was appointed Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Transport, Roads and Public Works in the province, in which capacity he served until 2004 when he became MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism.[1]

On 14 October 2015, Block was found guilty of fraud, corruption and money laundering by the Northern Cape High Court.[3][5] He subsequently resigned as Northern Cape African National Congress Chairman and MEC on 16 October 2015.[6] The case against him stems from his relationship with Christo Scholtz, CEO of property company Trifecta Holdings, which Block was found to have assisted to lease properties to the Northern Cape Provincial Government at inflated costs and to have received kickbacks in return.[7][8] On 10 March 2017 Block was granted leave to appeal the against his conviction but not against the sentence.[7] He was succeeded by Zamani Saul as ANC Provincial Chairperson.

References
  1. WhosWho South Africa. "John Block". http://whoswho.co.za/. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  2. De Waal, Mandy (28 March 2013). "Is John's head finally on the Block?". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  3. Letsoalo, Matuma (14 October 2015). "John Block guilty of corruption, fraud, money laundering". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  4. Mail & Guardian online, http://mg.co.za/article/2016-12-06-john-block-gets-15-year-jail-term-for-money-laundering-corruption (6 Dec 2016
  5. Grootes, Stephen (16 October 2015). "The ANC and the John Block case: What a difference four days make". The Daily Maverick. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  6. SABC (16 October 2015). "John Block resigns from his position". South African Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  7. 'Court grants John Block leave to appeal' Diamond Fields Advertiser, 10 March 2017 https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/court-grants-john-block-leave-to-appeal-8129229
  8. Former Northern Cape ANC chair John Block gets 15 years in jail, News24 16 Dec 2016, https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/former-northern-cape-anc-chair-john-block-gets-15-years-in-jail-20161206


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