DA accused of ‘sour grapes’

A FORMER DA provincial director, who has since joined Agang SA, is accusing the DA of “sour grapes” after the release of a report which implicated her in fraud.

CAPE TOWN — A former Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial director, who has since joined rival party Agang SA, is accusing the DA of “sour grapes” after the release of a forensic investigation report that implicated her in fraud involving thousands of rand.

According to a forensic probe instituted by the DA in North West, Leandi Erasmus, who was its leader in the province, had defrauded the DA of more than R150,000 by, among other things, submitting “fake invoices” of companies that “do not exist”.

Ms Erasmus joined Agang SA as its national field director this month. The forensic investigation was conducted by external auditors last month after some of the expenditure incurred by the DA in North West was found to be “suspicious”.

The alleged irregular expenditure and fraud happened over three years, from 2010.

Ms Erasmus said at the weekend she was planning to sue the DA for “professional damages”. “This is clearly a politically motivated ploy to disgrace me in the media — and sour grapes with regards to my appointment at Agang SA,” she said.

“They are claiming that services rendered at cost by myself and fellow staff members for the sake of saving thousands of rand for the party are now fraudulent,” she said. “Never was it a secret that staff and family of staff (myself included) rendered these services to the party.

“It is interesting that they would state these things in my first week of employment at Agang SA.”

A DA source said Ms Erasmus “jumped ship” because “she knew what was coming”. The source said the party would lay criminal charges against her.

Ms Erasmus said she had been considering joining Agang SA since its inception. “The staff turnover of the DA is incredibly high. Since the beginning of this week I have been contacted by six DA staff members inquiring if Agang can accommodate them as well.”

According to the forensic report, which Business Day has, Ms Erasmus “created” invoices for accommodation establishments, meant for staff members.

Agang SA spokesman Thabo Leshilo said the party viewed the claims as a case of “sour grapes” and that the timing was “suspicious”.