Scorpions silent on ANC attack

2005-02-04 22:35

Willem Jordaan

Cape Town - The African National Congress's vitriolic attack on the Scorpions was met with a stony silence by the elite investigation unit on Friday.

Makhosini Nkosi of the Scorpions said: "We have no comment."

The unit's ranks were abuzz, however, about the attack launched by ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe.

He reduced the travel-voucher scandal to "a circus" and said the aim was to humiliate parliament.

It has been said in political quarters that Goniwe's statements should be seen as "an attempt to influence on a political level the outcome of the case by a party that is directly involved with the investigation".

Numerous ANC members are expected to appear before court on February 18 in connection with the scandal.

'Parliamentarians caused the scandal'

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance said Goniwe had to be reminded that the Scorpions did not create the travel scandal.

DA chief whip Douglas Gibson said parliamentarians had caused the scandal by abusing their benefits or by not watching matters closely enough.

"Parliament then called the Scorpions to investigate the case."

Gibson said Goniwe's statements were possibly an attempt to intimidate the Scorpions.

He felt the unit had a lot of explaining to do, but not with regard to "malice and hidden agendas".

He said: "The Scorpions should rather explain why they treat those who are accused of betraying the public trust surprisingly softly.

"The Scorpions have to explain why it took them so long to investigate the case and why so few MPs were charged...

"By their own actions, the Scorpions created the impression that they were in cahoots with the ruling party."

- Die Burger