Let sanity prevail by retaining the Scorpions as an independent crime-fighting unit, the Inkatha Freedom Party urged government on Monday.

"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 a national disgrace," spokesperson Velhapi Ndlovu said in a statement.

His remarks follow the public release of the Khampepe Commission's findings earlier in the day. In the report, Khampepe said it was her considered 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 that 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, government is once again punishing South Africans who are already being punished by excessive crime levels.

"The IFP would like to urge 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.

Also on Monday, Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Sandra Botha said President Thabo Mbeki was "doubly culpable in the event that the Scorpions are disbanded".

Firstly, he had failed to ensure the necessary co-operation between the Scorpions and the SA Police Service.

"Secondly, 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 ANC'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.

Freedom Front Plus spokesperson Pieter Groenewald said Mbeki had failed the Scorpions by not implementing the Khampepe Commission's recommendations.

These had included a proposal for an Operational Committee (OpsCom) to resolve the controversy surrounding the Scorpions and the conflict with the police.

"The failure to appoint the OpsCom merely worsened the internal tensions, professional jealousy and conflict, which in the end destroyed the Scorpions.

"The commission's finding that the existence of the Scorpions and its control under the NPA is indeed constitutional strengthened Mbeki's hand. Mbeki, however, did nothing and in reality failed the Scorpions," he said.

For its part, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) stuck to its guns that "the Scorpions should be incorporated into the SA Police Service under one commissioner".

Cosatu repeated its call for "a speedy end to the elective prosecutions-of-choice which have been the sole contribution of the regrettable 'Scorpions' experiment", it said in a statement.

"The federation notes the publication of the long-awaited report Khampepe Commission Report on the Scorpions, and has referred it to our legal experts. We shall issue a detailed assessment of the report shortly," Cosatu said.

Sapa