Cape Town – Despite being out on bail and facing fraud and money laundering charges, DA councillor Nora Grose was appointed to be part of councillors who will look into matters of the municipality.
Grose was elected as part of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC). The main purpose of the MPAC as stated by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is to exercise oversight over the executive functionaries of the council and to ensure good governance in the municipality. This will include oversight over municipal entities.
Yagyah Adams from Cape Muslim Party (CMC) who slept throughout the proceedings was re-elected as chairperson of the MPAC.
Opposition parties, except for CMC, voted against the inclusion of Grose to the committee but DA’s majority ensured that she made the cut.
Grose and Reuben Swartz last appeared at the Bellville Commercial Crimes Court in November on charges of fraud and money laundering relating to allegations of misappropriating City of Cape Town funds intended for food relief.
They are out on R10 000 bail each.
GOOD party’s Suzette Little expressed disappointment and said the council recently adopted the terms of reference for MPAC that was so encouraging promoting good governance, transparency and accountability.
“These standards should be upheld in MPAC. The DA must stop the double standards, we just read in the media serious allegations made against Albert Fritz. The DA acted and removed him immediately, yet in the City of Cape Town council we have a councillor charged by the Hawks,” she said.
Little said Grose is trusted to deal with investigations of the same matters she is being investigated for.
“This type of arrogance (from the DA) cannot be allowed, we, therefore, request that the item be amended to remove councillor Grose from MPAC as she does not meet the criteria,” she said.
ANC chief whip Noluthando Makasi also called out mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis for not keeping promises after Adams was announced as chairperson of MPAC.
“The mayor said he is open to engagement and consultation but in this manner, it's just a spit on the face. Adams has not been effective in that position and now you are putting him back. While we are discussing issues now, he is sleeping in council. This is a multi-party council and you should allow other parties to chair the committee so that it can keep this municipality accountable,” Makasi said.
Weekend Argus