Kimberley - As media platforms exploded late on Wednesday afternoon with the news that Northern Cape ANC provincial chairman John Block had been found guilty of corruption and money laundering, the ruling party side-stepped the big question on the future of the local politician, stating only that it had noted the judgment.
ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa said in a statement issued by the party on Wednesday that it had “noted the judgment on the matter of the case of Comrade John Block” but would await sentencing by the court before giving a full response on the matter.
“Until then, the ANC will refrain from commenting,” Kodwa said.
Block might be one of the first high-profile ANC leaders to be dealt with by the ANC’s integrity commission after it was given more teeth at the party’s recent national general council.
The NGC has given the commission the power to decide whether a leader should step down from their position when accused or convicted of corruption or other allegations that would negatively affect the image of the ANC.
Members of the public were not afraid to voice their opinions on Wednesday and media platforms lit up as the news emerged that the highly-anticipated judgment in the Trifecta trial had been handed down in the Northern Cape High Court.
Following a lengthy two-day judgement by Judge Violet Phatsoane, the case, that has been plagued by numerous delays and postponements, finally reached its climax at around 3pm on Wednesday afternoon, when Phatsoane delivered the verdict.
Various media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and online media sites, were abuzz as users took to voicing their thoughts about the judgment, especially with regards to Block and his senior position in the ANC.
“And the once great Liberation Movement starts to crumble”; “the justice system may be a slow plodder but eventually it gets there”; “at last ANC cronies start to fry . . . now pay back the money with interest,” were some of the online comments made shortly after the news broke.
Many also looked to the ANC, asking what it will do next.
“Huge outcome. John Block and his cronies have wrecked the Northern Cape for too long. Hope the ANC has the guts to act,” one twitter user said, while another added, “It will be very interesting to see if the ANC practices what it preaches and gets rid of corrupt cadres.”
One user even regarded the judgment as “positive news”.
“Positive news for a change – may the jail doors open wide for them and may all their assets be attached forthwith to recoup the losses. I suppose these guys will however now first try their hands at an appeal to buy time and allow them a chance to arrange the disappearance of assets as has become customary practice for fraudsters,” he said.
Opposition parties in the Northern Cape were also quick to respond, with the DA calling on Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas to immediately remove Block from his position in government.
“Every moment that the premier delays in removing him from power, is making her complicit in the corruption. He must be removed from his strategic position, where he can make decisions on public funds, so that we can begin to clean up the rot he leaves behind. From the start of this three-year long case we have said that it surpasses our understanding that the provincial government can condone this large-scale corruption,” DA provincial leader Andrew Louw said.
He added that the judgement was “a victory for the people of the province” and affirmed that politicians, however powerful, could not abuse their power to enrich themselves at the cost of the poor.
Cope provincial leader, Pakes Dikgetsi, said the judgment should serve as a warning to corrupt officials that “were threatening the freedom of ordinary citizens”.
Spokeswoman for the office of the premier, Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams, responded by saying that Lucas was currently out of the country on official business in Namibia and as the matter had not yet been concluded, she was not in a position to comment. Lucas had, however, “taken note of the developments unfolding in the court case thus far”.
DFA