Shelve Scorpions bills - DA
2008-10-19 21:42
Johannesburg - The move by the ANC to shut down the Scorpions is clearly motivated by political interests, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday.
In a statement the DA said allegations that dissident ANC MPs were planning to vote against the SAPS Amendment Bill and the NPA Amendment Bill in Parliament on Thursday indicated that the ANC wished to dismantle the Scorpions in order to protect Jacob Zuma and other senior members from investigations.
DA spokesperson for safety and security Dianne Kohler Barnard said disgruntled MPs should not use Parliament for political vendettas.
The Sunday Independent reported that disgruntled ANC MPs who were considering defecting to Mosiuoa Lekota's mooted splinter party might rebel by not voting for the two bills.
Kohler Barnard said if this report was true then the ANC 's motivation for the disbandment was "entirely motivated by political interests".
Kohler said the bills should be shelved.
"In light of the allegation... the DA reiterates its call for the shelving of these two contentious bills.
"Parliament cannot in this way be seen to be used as a tool for waging political vendettas," she said.
- SAPA