Calls for Scorpions to stay
2008-05-05 20:26
Cape Town - The Inkatha Freedom Party has urged the government to let sanity prevail by retaining the Scorpions as an independent crime-fighting unit.
IFP safety and and security spokesperson Velhapi Ndlovu said: "The Inkatha Freedom Party believes that organised crime remains a serious threat, and we therefore consider the executive's disregard of Judge Sisi Khampepe's recommendations as a national disgrace."
His remarks followed the public release of the Khampepe Commission's findings earlier in the day.
In the report, Judge Khampepe said it was her view the Scorpions "should continue to be located within the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority)".
Ndlovu said the Scorpions - officially, the Directorate of Special Operations - had done an extraordinary job in combating crime and bringing to book so called "untouchable" criminals.
"It is clear the disbandment of the Scorpions is a political decision and not a decision based on merit.
"Furthermore, the IFP believes that by closing down the Scorpions, the government is once again punishing South Africans who are already being punished by excessive crime levels.
"The IFP would like to urge the government to let sanity prevail. The Scorpions should remain an elite unit, as Judge Khampepe recommended, and should be allowed to continue doing their excellent work," he said.
Left the field wide open
Also on Monday, Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Sandra Botha said President Thabo Mbeki was "doubly culpable in the event that the Scorpions are disbanded".
First, he had failed to ensure the necessary co-operation between the Scorpions and the SA Police Service.
"Second, through his inaction and supine acquiescence to the (Jacob) Zuma-led ANC, President Mbeki has left the field completely open for the latter to bulldoze through its wish to have the Scorpions disbanded."
The African National Congress's push to have the Scorpions disbanded was a blatant example of the governing party putting its own interests and the political interests of its leader above that of the interests of the people of South Africa, she said.
- SAPA