Durban — Struggle icon and human rights activist Dr Allan Boesak has lashed out at President Cyril Ramaphosa for allegedly “instructing” Upington Correctional Services officials to prevent him and Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu from visiting John Fikile Block, 54.
Block is the former chairperson of the ANC in the Northern Cape. He was a member of the executive council (MEC) for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism in the Northern Cape provincial government. Block was found guilty by the Kimberley High Court of money laundering and sentenced to 15 years in jail in December 2016.
Sisulu, in her private capacity, and human rights activist Reverend Boesak attempted to visit him on Tuesday.
Sisulu said she has a proud, well-established and well-documented track record of protecting the human rights of all South Africans, especially those facing persecution by the criminal justice system.
However, there was drama when Sisulu and Boesak were stopped at the second gate. They were told there was no provision in Correctional Services facilities for ministers to visit prisoners.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, Sisulu said when she wrote her opinion piece, which sparked a huge debate, she was writing about the experience she had while her father, Walter Sisulu, was incarcerated. Now she, too, experienced the first-hand injustices she was talking about in her letter.
While the ANC national executive member and presidential hopeful opted for a diplomatic answer to the question whether she thought she was blocked for political reasons or not, Boesak was blunt and said the humiliation was well-orchestrated from the Ramaphosa office.
Boesak said they were not naive and the prison officials were clearly acting on an instruction they received from the highest office.
Boesak said he was aware that both Ramaphosa and the current Northern Cape ANC chairperson had asked to visit Block, but he (Block) turned down their request.
Boesak believed that those who were rejected by Block felt threatened because Block had accepted a visit from Sisulu. She is vying for the top ANC position at the upcoming elective conference in December.
“This was clearly a political act and has a lot to do with the coming conference where the person sitting next to me (Sisulu) would be contesting the position.
“I am linking Ramaphosa to this because I know he wanted to visit Block and was rejected, so it is not Sisulu who accused him, but me,” said Boesak.
He said he had come to pray for Block as it was normal, but he never expected to be prevented under a democratic administration as was the case under apartheid.
Sisulu adopted a diplomatic approach, saying she did not know exactly who was behind it but said she suspected something sinister.
The minister said what angered her was the reasons prison officials gave her.
“Block was visited by many ministers, including Mcebisi Skwatsha. I come to see Block as a relative. We are from the same clan, the Xhamelas.
“I find it strange because I applied for the visit on Monday and I was granted permission. The fact that we were stopped at the second gate is strange. They could have stopped us before we entered gate 1,” Sisulu said.
“My rights and Block’s rights were violated. This is the same violation that prompted me to write my opinion piece where I asked Mzansi whether they have seen justice.
“I intend to write another piece after this experience to tell people that indeed justice in this country works for the few who are in favour of the administration.”
Sisulu said he had qualified for parole but it was mysteriously cancelled, and strangely people, mostly foreigners, who were convicted after him, were released on parole.
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said no member of the public, including the minister, should be prevented from visiting inmates. As for parole, he said Block did not qualify for parole and that was explained to him.
Daily News