John Block, former Northern Cape ANC leader and MEC, was placed on parole on Friday, 10 November, after his parole hearing was heard virtually in Kimberley where he appeared in a civil defamation suit against him.
The Department of Correctional Services (DSC) confirmed that Block was released on parole from the prison in Upington.
He was released under a presidential remission and under correctional supervision until his sentence is served on 26 June 2029. According to Singabakho Nxumalo, spokesperson for the DCS, Block completed programmes in prison and obtained a diploma in Business Management.
Block’s parole application earlier this year was rejected. After his appeal failed, he approached the court. In the resulting order, the department and parole board had to review his application. This did not happen, and a punitive costs order was issued against the department in which they had to explain by 10 November that they reviewed the parole application.
The defendants argued there was not enough evidence that they defamed former judge Kgomo.
Nano Matlala, an attorney, allegedly told the late Abel (Dali) Mjila, Block’s legal representative, that an unidentified judge in Kgomo’s presence heard how Judge Violet Phatsoane, presiding officer in the corruption trial, told Kgomo in a telephone conversation she has no grounds to convict Block, to which Kgomo allegedly replied, “Convict the bastard.”
Block testified that he did not know Matlala. Mjila, whom he had known for years, shared the allegations with him and later discussed it with a senior lawyer too. Block’s legal team unsuccessfully urged Phatsoane in chambers to recuse herself and postpone the trial.
Block then made the allegations against Kgomo and Phatsoane in an affidavit as part of a special entry in open court. Phatsoane dismissed the allegations as untrue.
His complaint against Phatsoane was rejected by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) due to a lack of evidence, which Block says he accepted.
Adv. Sean Rosenberg SC, on behalf of Kgomo, put it to Block in cross-examination that someone made up the hearsay story, as Kgomo and Phatsoane deny the allegations. So does Matlala.
Block submitted he wanted the allegations to be investigated and that lawyers have an obligation to report alleged irregularities. However, he does not know why Mjila did not submit an affidavit for the special entry and complaint to the JSC to substantiate his allegations.
Rosenberg found it unlikely that Block would not take steps to find out who the unidentified judge was.
Mjila confirmed in his plea at the time that Matlala told him about the allegation. Matlala is a respected attorney, and he did not doubt the information.
Matlala in his testimony agreed with Kgomo that the alleged telephone conversation with Phatsoane never took place, nor did his alleged communication with Mjila.
At the start of the trial, Judge Kgomo testified how his dignity, reputation, and integrity had been tarnished by the false allegations. He closed his case without calling further witnesses.
Adv. Lungela Bomela acts for Block on behalf of Luluma Lobi, Sanele Mjila for the Mjila Etate, and Adv. McGregor Kufa is instructed by Matshego Ramagaga Inc. on behalf of Matlala.
Judge Nathan Erasmus postponed the matter to 6 February for arguments.
