John Block not fit to present budget as opposition walks out

The DA, ID and COPE staged a joint walk-out of the Northern Cape legislature today as Finance MEC John Block tabled the province's adjusted budget.

Block faces a series of corruption charges, with a fresh round of fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges being laid against him last week.

The DA has called on Premier Grizelda Cjiekella to remove MEC's Block and Alvin Botes from their positions with immediate effect. Both were charged last week for enriching themselves from government leases awarded to Trifecta.

No action has been taken by the Premier.

MEC Block cannot be trusted with the province's finances. The Premier cannot make fools out of the public by allowing him to present this budget.

Are we going to pretend there is not a mountain of evidence that he enriches himself with public money? Questions must be raised as to why he is adjusting the budget. Is money being channelled to programmes that he can exploit for his own gain?

The Democratic Alliance will not stop until both Block and Botes are removed from office. The Premier must rise above the fact that these men are her political seniors. She must act in the interests of the public and good governance.

In due course, we will announce further action in our campaign to clean the province of corruption.

Statement issued by Andrew Louw, DA Northern Cape Leader, November 27 2012

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