“Nora Grose should be on trial, and not on the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC).”
So says former Mayco member and now councillor for GOOD Suzette Little.
She spoke out after Grose was elected to the MPAC at a council meeting on Thursday 27 January.
“Grose is being prosecuted for the very conduct (the committee) investigates,” Little said.
“She shouldn’t be anywhere near that committee!” Little regards it as a conflict of interest and breach of the requirements to serve on such a committee.
“Grose was not an appropriate appointment because the committee investigated fraud, corruption, maladministration and irregular expenditure by her,” Little pointed out. She says the DA must stop employing double standards and ensure all are treated the same. Little added in a motion to the Speaker: “We have just read in the media about the serious allegations made against Albert Fritz, based on an affidavit and a complainant speaking to JP Smith; the DA acted and removed him immediately.
“Yet in the City of Cape Town we have a councillor charged by the Hawks for fraud and money laundering and is out on bail. Yet this councillor is allowed to serve on a committee that deals with investigating the very matters she is accused of.”
The GOOD party has called for Grose to be removed from the position, saying she does not meet the criteria for membership as per the terms of reference adopted. “The terms of reference require all members to have integrity and honesty,” Little said. “While Grose is innocent until proven guilty, she is being prosecuted for fraud and money laundering, so she doesn’t meet the standard of integrity or independence required.”
However, the council’s Speaker, Felicity Purchase, said Grose’s many years of experience qualified her for the position. “Councillor Grose has not been found guilty of any charges to date,” Purchase said. Grose and Reuben Swartz will appear in the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court tomorrow (Wednesday) on charges of misappropriating City funds for food relief. Both are out on R10 000 bail.
