UDM 'will fight for Scorpions'
18/02/2008 17:13  - (SA)  

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Cape Town - The United Democratic Movement was prepared to fight in court the disbanding of the Scorpions "at any moment", said party president Bantu Holomisa on Monday.

"We have instructed [our lawyers] to prepare for such a legal challenge to be launched at any moment, depending on how the ANC government behaves from this point onwards," he said.

The UDM's legal team had advised it that there were grounds on which to challenge the legality and constitutionality of efforts to dismantle the Scorpions.

Holomisa would not say what these grounds were.

He called on Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete to ensure that the public could voice its opinion on the crime-fighting unit's future.

"There has been a general complaint among voters that laws seem to be steam-rollered through Parliament by the ANC which uses the institution as a rubber-stamp for the executive," he said.

"There is often a radical lack of consultation with the wider public."