DA using ‘double standards’ in Grose saga

CAPE TOWN - The DA has defended the inclusion of money laundering accused Nora Grose as a PR candidate in the upcoming local government elections, saying the party cannot remove her from the position she qualified for, as a result of the criminal charges against her.

But opposition parties have accused the DA of “double standards” as the party was quick to demand the “stepping aside” of others, even when they were not criminally charged.

Grose first appeared in the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court for alleged misappropriation of funds meant to assist with food relief in May, and is currently out on R10 000 bail.

She is accused of money laundering relating to food parcels and allegedly funnelling money to a church.

Investigations allegedly revealed that Atlantis pastor and chairperson of a non-governmental organisation, South African Religious Civic Organisation (Sarco), Reuben Swartz, had separately received funds from the City of Cape Town’s humanitarian fund.

The money which was meant for food parcels in Atlantis was allegedly funnelled to the church, which reportedly has ties to Grose.

Grose and Swartz appeared at the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court at the end of last month.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the matter was postponed to October 27 for the outcome of Grose's representations.

Grose was innocent until proven guilty, the DA maintained.

“Nora Grose is number 16 on the PR list. The DA believes in Constitutionalism and the rule of law. As such, in terms of S35 of our Constitution, Nora 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. If we did so, and she is later found to be innocent as she has maintained she is, her rights would be deeply prejudiced. We will take the appropriate action once a court of law makes a finding on her matter,” said DA MP Emma Powell.

Grose told the Cape Times panel interviews for potential DA councillors already took place in April 2021, before she was arrested.

“When I was arrested in May, I took the honourable decision to step down from my political activities to allow the law to take its course. The Party did not suspend me, I am still the Ward Councillor for Ward 23 and will continue my duties as such until the election on November 1.

“The DA is a principled party and believes in the rule of law. As a principled member of the DA I did not have to wait for the party to suspend me. I live by these principles and took the decision to step aside until my matter is heard in a court of law. No member of the party can be suspended until found guilty. I have not gone on trial and am assumed innocent until found guilty. If and when that happens I will resign as a councillor and step down from politics. Until such time I will continue serving my communities and constituents without fear or favour.

“I cannot be found guilty by public opinion. That is why there is a justice system and process,” she said.

Professor Bheki Mngomezulu, from UWC’s Political Studies department said when other parties were involved, the DA insisted that those implicated in corruption must summarily step aside but when the issue concerned them, the DA changed the rules.

“In an attempt to oust Zuma, they pushed for a secret ballot. When they dealt with Patricia De Lille, they insisted on an open ballot. Given this context, one should not be surprised by how they are handling this Grose issue,” he said.

ANC Caucus spokesperson Fiona Abrahams said this was “typical” of the DA.

“The DA will stop at nothing defending corruption in the party yet are quick to point fingers at others. If Nora was a person of colour we bet our last cent she would not have made it or got protection from the party. White privilege is prevalent in the DA,” she said.

Cape Times