Keep Scorpions as is - Holomisa

2008-01-16 20:24

Johannesburg - United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa on Wednesday rejected suggestions that the Scorpions - an investigative unit of the National Prosecuting Authority - be attached to the police or disbanded.

"The United Democratic Movement (UDM) feels that the timing for the suggested closure of this unit and its inclusion in the police is not good, given the fact that the very people who are campaigning against the Scorpions are subjects of investigation," Holomisa said.

"The Scorpions still have a Parliamentary mandate to investigate and charge all those who have been implicated in the arms deal.

"The UDM therefore totally rejects any suggestions that the Scorpions should either be attached to the police or disbanded."

The ANC passed a resolution at its 52nd national conference in December that the Scorpions be moved from the NPA to the police.

The Scorpions and the NPA have been criticised for their handling of the investigation into ANC president Jacob Zuma, who was fired from his Cabinet post as deputy president shortly before fraud charges were first put to him.

His later arrest on a charge of rape was seen by his supporters as a conspiracy to take him out of the running for the presidency.

He was acquitted on that case, but has since returned to court to face 16 charges including money laundering, racketeering and fraud.

'ANC creation'

Holomisa said that the Scorpions were an "ANC creation" formed to investigate corruption.

"Shall we now ask the Scorpions and other law enforcement agencies to turn a blind eye to corruption and fraud whenever the suspect happens to be a high-profile ANC member?"

The UDM was disturbed by the ANC's promotion of a conspiracy whenever a member was accused of committing a crime and believed this was fuelling a culture of disrespect for democratic institutions.

Holomisa was expelled from the ANC in 1996 for alleging that a former cabinet minister and fellow ANC member Stella Sigcau had received a bribe from hotel magnate Sol Kerzner while she served in the homeland government of the Transkei.

- SAPA