Former ANC Northern Cape chair's appeal against 15-year sentence for corruption dismissed
Political leaders should set an example and not misuse public office to corruptly obtain personal wealth, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled on Tuesday.
The SCA said this when it opposed an appeal by former ANC Northern Cape chairperson John Block and former businessman Christo Scholtz who were sentenced to 15 year jail terms each in December 2016 on money laundering and corruption charges.
Block and Scholtz were tried and convicted in the Northern Cape Division of the High Court.
"In these circumstances it was necessary for an unequivocal message to be sent out that corruption on the part of politicians holding high office would not be tolerated," the SCA ruled.
Block and Scholtz had appealed against their convictions and the sentence imposed on both of them.