Scorpions court battle fails

2008-05-28 11:07

Johannesburg - Local businessman Hugh Glenister's bid to stop government from disbanding the Scorpions has failed.

The Pretoria High Court on Wednesday struck his application from the roll, saying it was not in its jurisdiction to rule on the matter.

The court concluded that the principle of separation of powers prevented it from interfering with the executive's power to prepare and initiate legislation, as well as with the right of Parliament to deliberate on proposed legislation brought before it.

The court further concluded that if exceptional circumstances existed - warranting interference with parliamentary procedures - it was for the Concourt to decide on that issue.

Glenister said he was not about to give up in his fight to save the Scorpions.

"I'm somewhat disappointed ... I was hoping for a better answer ... but we obviously have to understand where the court is coming from," Glenister told reporters outside court.

"We have to look at everything the judge has written, and we have to analyse it, and then decide what our next steps are, but obviously we are not giving up," he said.

- SAPA