/ 5 December 2003

Minister’s head on the block

The Northern Cape provincial transport minister John Block is expected to be asked to resign from his position in the next few days.

Block has admitted to having used taxpayers’ money to fund his personal travel, among other things.

A report on the matter by the provincial auditor general has already been handed to the office of the Northern Cape Premier, Manne Dipico.

The African National Congress’s national executive committee was briefed last weekend on the findings of the report, which are largely based on Block’s admission. It is understood that, as a result, the ANC leadership feels Block should resign.

However, there could be some resistance from Block’s supporters. Block

is chairperson of the ANC in the province and is hugely popular. He heads the Northern Cape list of candidates for the legislature and is being slated by his supporters to take over as premier from the outgoing Dipico.

But, with Block possibly being forced to resign from his post, the ANC’s national list committee is expected to push another favourite for the premiership, provincial health minister Dipuo Peters, to the top of the Northern Cape list.