It is confirmed that councillor Nora Grose, who is accused of fraud and money laundering, will be among the newly elected councillors who will be sworn in this month.
Emma Powell, DA political head of the area, confirmed Grose was number 16 on the party’s PR list.
She said in terms of Section 35 of the Constitution Grose retains her right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. “We therefore cannot remove her from the position she qualified for on the list as a result of charges,” Powell said. “If we did, and she is later found to be innocent as she has maintained, her rights would have been deeply prejudiced. We will take the appropriate action once a court of law makes a finding on the matter.”
Grose and Reuben Swartz appeared in the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court last month on charges of fraud and money laundering relating to allegations of misappropriating mayoral funds intended for food relief at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Both are out on bail, their next court appearance on Tuesday (16 November).
Grose’s inclusion comes despite criticism from opposition parties accusing the Democratic Alliance of “double standards”. Brett Herron, Good secretary-general, said while Grose is innocent until proven guilty this view has never prevented the DA from calling for others to step aside when they’ve also been accused of wrongdoing. “There is a double injury being inflicted on us all,” he said.
“Grose is accused of serious financial misconduct relating to public Covid food relief funds, and the DA leadership has decided to use public funds to pay for her criminal defence.
“The public is now paying to defend her on charges relating to wrongdoing involving public funds, which is wrong,” Herron said, adding it’s the height of political hypocrisy, given the DA had challenged the use of public funds to pay for ex-President Jacob Zuma’s legal defence.
