End of the road for Scorpions
2008-10-23 22:23
Cape Town - The Scorpions have reached the end of the road after the National Assembly approved new legislation on Thursday to disband the investigating unit and incorporate it into the police service.
The move came despite widespread objections it would weaken the fight against crime.
The ANC used its overwhelming majority to push through the legislation 252 to 63.
It now has to go to the National Council of Provinces, but that is likely to be a formality.
'Murder of the Scorpions'
Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa told Parliament that disbanding the unit would strengthen law enforcement by eliminating duplication and rivalry.
"We have established a sharper instrument to stab the heart of organised crime," he said.
But the Inkatha Freedom Party's Koos van der Merwe said "the murder of the Scorpions" was reckless political expediency to protect ANC leaders and members from criminal investigation and possible prosecution.
The Democratic Alliance's Dianne Kohler-Barnard reminded the House that the Khampepe Commission had "told Parliament to keep the Directorate of Special Operations under the NPA".
"The Cabinet endorsed that report and its recommendations in June 2006," she said.
"But when the reality of that ruling became apparent, the country then learned to its horror that when reality doesn't suit the ANC, it thinks it can overrule a judge."
Unlikely to join SAPS
She predicted that the Scorpions' advocates, forensic auditors, and specialist investigators - none of whom ever wished to be in the police - would not join the new SA Police Service unit.
"Law enforcement agencies all over the world are utterly delighted that these experts are on the market and will no doubt snap them up," she said.
The Scorpions were set up in 1999 to focus on organised crime.
They made nearly 2 000 arrests in the past six years and had a conviction rate of 90%, compared to the police's estimated 10%, according to the Democratic Alliance.
The ANC disputes those figures.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Enver Surty also dismissed the opposition parties' criticism.
He cited Chief Justice Pius Langa's ruling in the Constitutional Court on Wednesday that "there is nothing wrong, in our multi-party democracy, with Cabinet seeking to give effect to the policy of the ruling party".
Surty said he believed Cabinet and Parliament had also fully observed their constitutional obligations.
"The bills were developed with the object of retaining as far as possible, the specialised skills and methodology developed and employed by the DSO, as well as drawing from the most highly-skilled and experienced detectives in the SAPS organised and commercial crimes branches," he said. - Sapa/ AP
- SAPA