Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu has explained what action she may take after allegedly being barred from visiting jailed former ANC Northern Cape chairperson John Block.
Sisulu this week accused prison authorities of not allowing her and reverend Allan Boesak to visit Block at the Upington Correctional Services.
She said she tried to visit Block in her personal capacity as his relative and had taken Boesak in his capacity as a pastor.
She said Block’s rights were violated as he was “inexplicably denied his right to see visitors”.
Block is serving 15 years for money laundering and corruption. He started serving his sentence in November 2018.
In a statement, the minister cleared the air on claims she was going to sue the state over its alleged ill treatment of Block, saying she would join as a friend of the court if Block decides to take legal action.
“I will join a amicus curiae basis should Mr Block choose to litigate,” she said.
Speaking to the media, Sisulu claimed someone was using their position to violate Block’s rights.
Sisulu said after the alleged incident, she was tempted to write part two of her controversial article “Hi Mzansi, have we seen justice?” in which she criticised the constitution.
“Earlier this year I had written an article which provoked a great deal of response. The article was titled “Hi Mzansi, have we seen justice”. I experienced that same injustice, that same lack of care for other people’s rights I had been talking about,” she said.
“I’m tempted to write ‘Hi Mzansi...’ part 2 about our experiences with the prison authorities. In terms of the constitution every offender has a right to visitors. This is part of the legal framework in which we work. John Block is no exception to that. He is entitled to visitors.”
The correctional services department denied Sisulu’s claims, saying Block was allowed visitors like any other prisoner, but no special provisions would be made for him to see visitors outside normal visiting hours or days.
The department’s spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said correctional centres across the country allow the public to make bookings to visit 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 equally to the executive and individuals who may want to provide spiritual support.”
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