Move will diminish Scorpions

2005-03-06 22:39

Johannesburg - Eight civil society bodies urged President Thabo Mbeki and the cabinet on Sunday not to let the directorate of special operations (DSO), commonly known as the Scorpions, to fall under the police's control.

"We believe that moving the DSO from the national prosecuting authority (NPA) would effectively remove the sting from the Scorpions," the group said in a statement.

It said the Scorpions "is unique in that it can analyse, investigate and prosecute" anyone, irrespective of their public standing.

"This will not be constitutionally possible should the DSO form part of the (police), or another state agency. (It) would effectively strip them of a key competency."

The Scorpions has probed high-profile ANC figures such as deputy president Jacob Zuma and former transport minister Mac Maharaj, unleashing a barrage of criticism against Bulelani Ngcuka, the NPA's ex-boss.

The investigations also created tension between Ngcuka and Jackie Selebi, the national police commissioner.

Last month, Mbeki said a commissioner would be appointed to probe the "inherent structural tension" between the Scorpions and the police.

However, some media reports state that Zuma is in favour of the Scorpions moving from the NPA to the police, but Mbeki is not in favour of that.

"We believe that moving the Scorpions would negatively affect their ability to tackle our country's most powerful and sophisticated criminals.

"Attempts to undermine the Scorpions will ultimately benefit those involved in crime and corruption," the group said.

The proposed commission should focus on improving the Scorpions' effectiveness, the group said.

"We call on the president and the cabinet to ensure that a proposed commission should focus on improving the effectiveness of the DSO and other anti-corruption agencies."

The civil society group consists of, among others, the SA NGO Coalition, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, the Institute for Democracy in SA, the Institute for Security Studies and the Open Democracy Advice Centre.

- SAPA