The Kimberly High Court has overturned the Upington Correctional Supervision and Parole Board’s decision to deny former ANC strongman John Block parole.
Consequently, the court ordered that Block be set free within the next 21 days. This is contained in a judgment issued on Friday.
Block was represented by top legal eagle advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi. The former ANC Northern Cape provincial chairperson was sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption in 2016.
The Upington Correctional Supervision and Parole Board rejected Block’s parole request in 2020.
“The decision of the Upington Correctional Supervision and Parole Board dated 29 September 2020 is hereby reviewed and set aside,” ordered Judge Albert Nxumalo.
Attempts by Block to appeal to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, and the National Commissioner of Prisons were ignored.
Nxumalo ruled: “The applicant’s (Block’s) application for a special remission sentence for highly meritorious service is hereby remitted to the Upington Correctional Supervision and Parole Board for a decision within a period of 21 days of the date hereof.”
The department was clobbered with a cost order.
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