Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu was put in her place by the Department of Correctional Services in a letter that criticised her demand for the ‘special treatment’ of an ANC inmate, John Block.
Correctional Services dept blasts Lindiwe Sisulu in fiery statement
Sisulu, acting in her private capacity, was accompanied by human rights activist Reverend Allan Boesak to Upington prison, where her fellow comrade and former ANC chairperson in the Northern Cape, was held.
However, as confirmed by the Department of Correctional Services in a statement released on Tuesday, the minister and the reverend were refused entry for failing to follow the prescribed visitation procedure.
The department made it clear that “no member of the public can ever be denied an opportunity to visit an inmate in line with the prescribed procedures as outlined in the Correctional Services Act.”
“The 243 correctional centres across the country allow the public to make bookings to visit both remand detainees and sentenced inmates, with dates and times allocated for such visits. There is nothing in law prohibiting Ministers from visiting inmates; however, it has to be stated that the same procedures meant for members of the public apply to the Executive and individuals who may want to provide spiritual support,” the statement read.
Further, while the corrections department did not make specific mention of Sisulu, it did confirm that enquiries on whether John Block was on the list of inmates under consideration for special parole or remissions were recently made.
.”..it was clarified that he was never on the list as he did not meet the stipulated criteria,” the department explained.
At a media briefing Sisulu held after her impromptu visitation request was denied, the minister blasted the corrections department for “blatantly” abusing inmates’ rights.
“Like anybody else, a Minister has a right to visit a relative for as long as that is allowed by the law, and that is allowed in this case, not only by the law but by the constitution. And I had made the necessary arrangements to come and see him, including the arrangements of who would be accompanying me to come see him,” she insisted.
Sisulu also criticised the corrections department’s application of the special remissions programme, which, in her opinion, has, in the past, afforded rapists parole, a claim the DCS vehemently denies.
“…utterances insinuating that a rapist was released on parole under the COVID-19 Parole Dispensation are wholly unfounded and unfortunate,” the department noted.
Who is John Block?
John Block is a high-ranking ANC official who, before his conviction, served as an ANC chairperson in the Northern Cape.
As reported by Times Live, Block was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for fraud, corruption and money laundering in 2015. However, the influential politician did not serve his sentence until 2018, after exhausting his appeals.
In 2020, when President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the COVID-19 special remissions programme, it was reported Block was one of the 19 000 inmates considered for early release.
However, due to the severe nature of his crimes, Block did not qualify for special parole and the corrections department made it clear in a statement released at the time that the speculation was nothing more than fake news.
“The DCS has been inundated with inquiries over false news that offender John Block has been released. We want to categorically state that allegations of offender Block being placed on parole are devoid of any truth and must be dismissed,” the corrections department noted at the time.
In 2022, Block would have served four years of his 15-year prison term. The DCS has maintained that Block may only be considered for parole once he has met the necessary criteria prescribed in the Correctional Services Act.
