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Scorpions' fate to be known soon
08/02/2008 11:54 - (SA)
Cape Town - The future of the Scorpions could be known by the end of next month, President Thabo Mbeki indicated on Friday.
In his State of the Nation address to Parliament, Mbeki recommitted government to intensifying the fight against crime and organised crime in particular.
"Informed by the imperative to intensify the offensive against organised crime, as well as the recommendations of the Khampepe Judicial Commission on the functioning and location of the Directorate of Special Operations and continuing reflections on this matter, we shall by the end of March this year, interact with Parliament on legislation and other decisive measures required further to enhance our capacity to fight organised crime.
"What will continue to inform us as we take this step will be the absolute commitment of government to fight organised crime and improve the management, efficiency and co-ordination of our law-enforcement agencies.
"Of great importance, our success in the fight against crime depends on co-operation among all of us as law-abiding citizens, inspired by the principles of rule of law, respect for our judiciary and pursuit of equal human rights, which our Constitution enjoins us to observe in our daily lives and pronouncements," Mbeki said.
Transformed criminal justice system
Cabinet had agreed on a set of changes required to establish a new, modernised, efficient and transformed criminal justice system.
Among other things, this would entail setting up a new co-ordinating and management structure for the system at every level, from national to local, bringing together the judiciary and magistracy, the police, prosecutors, correctional services and the Legal Aid Board - as well as other interventions, including the empowerment of the Community Police Forums.
Some of these initiatives were already under way, and if they were all carried out in an integrated and complementary manner, the impact would certainly be that much more effective in the fight against crime.
The Ministers of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster would elaborate on the details of this and other initiatives during the course of next week.
"We shall also, during the course of this year, process the Bills on the transformation of the judiciary in consultation with judges and magistrates, complete the strategy aimed at strengthening border control and security, further give life to the Victims' Charter, pay particular attention to the issue of repeat offenders, and continue the implementation of additional measures deriving from recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission."
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