Block must go

14 October 2015

The Democratic Alliance welcomes the judgement delivered in the Trifecta trial by judge Violet Phatsoane in the Northern Cape High
Court today. We believe that the court, having considered all the evidence before it, arrived at a sound conclusion in finding that MEC for Finance John Block is indeed guilty of corruption.

We call on the premier to act immediately and to remove the MEC for Finance from his position in government. Every moment that the premier delays on 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 the 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.

The DA has been calling for Block’s suspension for a long time so that he can sort out his legal complications. The premier has not
considered this seriously. Now that the courts have decided, the premier must do the right thing in the best interests of the people of
the Northern Cape.

The judgement is a victory for the people of the province and affirms that politicians, however powerful, cannot abuse their connections to enrich themselves at the cost of the poor.

This is evidence that nobody is above the law, regardless of the political party you belong to or the position you hold in public
office.

The DA believes in the rule of law. If the ruling of the court is that Alvin Botes is not guilty, we will accept this outcome as we have confidence in the courts. We trust that justice has prevailed.

Statement issued by Andrew Louw, MPL, DA Provincial Leader, 14 October 2015