Govt approves end of Scorpions
2008-05-04 11:35
Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki's
government has approved the disbanding of an elite South African
crime-fighting unit, bowing to pressure from supporters of rival
Jacob Zuma who accused it of political abuse.
Mbeki's cabinet adopted two bills last week paving the way
for the end of the Directorate of Special Operations, commonly
known as the Scorpions, and the creation of a new unit within
the police, South Africa's Sunday Times reported.
The FBI-style unit had been living on borrowed time since
Zuma beat Mbeki for the leadership of the ruling African
National Congress in December. Zuma's camp accused the Scorpions
of engaging in a plot to smear and deny Zuma the ANC top job.
In 2005, the unit raided properties belonging to Zuma and
his lawyer as part of their corruption investigation of the
politician, who is scheduled to go on trial in August for fraud,
bribery and other wrongdoing tied to an arms scandal.
Crime-fighting successes
Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said the bills dissolving
the unit would be tabled in Parliament this week and be followed
by public hearings, the Times said. The ANC-dominated Parliament
is expected to ratify the move.
Established by Mbeki in 1999 to fight high-profile
corruption cases, the Scorpions have scored successes against
organised crime, despite seeing their reputation attacked as a
result of the Zuma investigation.
The unit is not part of the police and reports to the
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The NPA in turn answers to
South Africa's Justice Department.
The Scorpions had waged a turf war with the police and were
accused of using their power to settle scores, most notably in
Zuma's corruption case but also in an investigation of the
country's police chief.
Zuma is widely seen as the frontrunner to replace Mbeki, who
must leave office in 2009, and Zuma supporters have been purging
party and parliamentary bodies of the most pro-Mbeki officials.
The rivalry between the two has stoked investor fears of
political instability in Africa's largest economy.
It is unclear, however, whether disbanding the Scorpions
will have any bearing on the legal case against Zuma, who has
pledged to step down as ANC leader if convicted.
Mbeki fought to save the Scorpions and had the support of
the main opposition party, but his ministers were lukewarm to
the idea in the face of pressure from the Zuma-led ANC.
The South African leader is due on Monday to release a
report of an investigation into the Scorpions that will
recommend the unit be retained while criticising the way it
operated, the Times said.