Nqakula denies Scorpions remark
27/02/2008 21:07  - (SA)  

Scorpions: Parly has last say Scorpions: Public must protest Scorpions: Papers have a say Nqakula 'undermined authority' Scorpions: Parties lash out Nqakula disbands Scorpions Scorpions to be disbanded Scorpions set to be disbanded

Cape Town - Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula has denied claims that he categorically stated that the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions) would be disbanded.

Responding to MPs' questions in the National Assembly, Nqakula dismissed as "politicking" suggestions by Democratic Alliance MP Diane Kohler-Barnard that he had said the Scorpions would be disbanded.

"What I said was that we were putting a proposal on the table - I never said Parliament was not going to be involved," he said.

Nqakula said it was wrong to compare the Scorpions' success rate to that of the police service as the two were designed differently.

"You can't compare apples with oranges," he said.

The Scorpion's prosecutorial component, widely viewed as the cornerstone of the unit's success, would be retained in the new amalgamated organised crime unit.

"A prosecutorial team that will assist in the finalisation of the investigations still will be required.

"What we don't want is the people who have been part of the investigation to be the same people taking the docket to court," he said.