Public hearings on Scorpions
2008-08-09 11:02
Johannesburg - Public hearings on the bill relating to the possible dissolution of the Scorpions will be held throughout the country next week, parliament announced on Friday.
Parliament's portfolio committees on justice and constitutional development, and safety and security, would hold the hearings from this Monday to Friday.
"All members of the public and media are invited to attend," parliament said in a statement.
The bill concerns the possible replacement of the Directorate of Special Operations, known as the Scorpions, with a new division within the SA Police Service, known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
"One of parliament's core objectives is to enhance the participation of the public in the processes of parliament, the public's access to the institution and its members," it said.
"In this regard, information provided to the public is a vital focus of parliament. It is with this in mind that the Committees will be conducting public hearings to further facilitate public involvement in the legislative process."
The public hearings would all start at 10:00.
On Monday they would be held at the Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre, in East London, and Johannesburg City Hall in Gauteng, with Tuesday's hearings in Durban's Umlazi Indoor Sports Centre, and Witbank's Lynnville Community Hall.
The hearings on Wednesday would be held at the Meropa Casino in Polokwane, and the Progress Community Hall in Upington, while Thursday's hearings would be conducted at the Mafikeng Community Centre and the Mangaung Local Municipality.
Friday's hearings would take place at the Ikhwezi Community Hall, in Gugulethu.
On August 20, the Constitutional Court is set to hear an application by Johannesburg businessman Hugh Glenister to stop the disbanding of the Scorpions.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Brigitte Mabandla and Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula are opposing the bid.
Glenister originally brought the case in the Pretoria High Court in May, but it was struck from the roll by Judge Willie van der Merwe who found that the court did not have the jurisdiction to decide on a separation of powers matter.
- SAPA