JOHANNESBURG
DA slams Scorpions U-turn
Posted Fri, 02 May 2008

Cabinet should explain to South Africans why they took a dramatic U-turn in approving the bill to incorporate the Scorpions into the SA Police Service, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday.

DA leader Helen Zille said less than two years ago cabinet had endorsed the Khampepe Commission's recommendation to retain the Scorpions in the National Prosecuting Authority.

"So what has changed?" said Zille.

"What has happened in this period that warrants the disbanding of the most successful crime-fighting unit in the country?"

Zille said it was the African National Congress leadership that emerged from Polokwane which wanted to disband the Scorpions in order to allegedly "protect high profile members from investigations".

Zille said two weeks ago ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe had apparently admitted the ANC wanted to see the Scorpions closed down because it was targeting ANC leaders in its investigations.

"The dissolution of the Scorpions will weaken the fight against crime."

Zille said the DA and sectors of civil society would fight to prevent this happening.

Sapa