The Inkatha Freedom Party has joined a High Court bid to save the Scorpions crime-fighting unit, the party said on Friday.

The IFP's chief whip Koos van der Merwe said: "The IFP vehemently opposes the disbanding of the Scorpions and we gladly join other opposition parties as an amicus curiae [friend of the court]."

On Wednesday the ACDP, DA, ID and UDM filed a joint submission in the High Court as amicus curiae in the application brought by Johannesburg businessman Hugh Glenister to stop the government from disbanding the Scorpions.

Van der Merwe said the IFP believed that the Scorpions unit in its current form was an "irreplaceable element" in the fight against crime.

"We will fight the ANC's abuse of power and subversion of democracy in court," he said.

The Democratic Alliance on Friday called for a protest outside the High Court in Pretoria on 20 May to oppose the disbandment of the Scorpions.

In a statement, the DA characterised the disbandment of the unit as an "undemocratic, unconstitutional attempt by the ruling party to prevent their high-ranking officials from being investigated and prosecuted according to the laws of South Africa".

Earlier this year, Glenister launched a private application for an interdict against the disbandment on constitutional grounds.

The application will be heard on 20 May.

Sapa