Scorpions soon to be a thing of the past

By Mandisi Tyulu
24 October 2008

The disbandment of the Scorpions was approved in the National Assembly, despite the opposition’s vehement protests.

The Democratic Alliance’s Dianne Kohler Barnard says the five cases that Willie Hofmeyer requested to be investigated were refusing by parliament. She added that it was a sad day for parliament as the effective crime unit will be no more.

While the African Christian Democratic party leader says the Scorpions consisted of highly trained prosecutes and investigators who the SAPS does not have.

Moshoe says the South African Police Service will not have the muscle to prosecute their leaders such as high commissioners who are involved in corruption but the Scorpions had the muscle and the bite and the courage to prosecute anyone who was involved in corruption.

‘‘This can not be said about the SAPS and the ANC made the biggest mistakes of their lives it will haunt them for a very long time to come.”

Meanwhile the United Democratic Movement Bantu Holomisa says the reasoning behind disbandment of the Scorpions and the people who were champions of this programme are actually suspects who are wanted by the police for crime related matters.

‘So can expect there for that the criminals yesterday had a fill day in parliament because there uncertainty about this new police force, so South African when there go to vote next year must not put their eggs in one basket.’’

The Independent Democrats leader Patricia De Lille says her party voted against the disbandment of the Scorpions and that the party will continue the fight against crime.

‘Sadly the battle against dissolve of Scorpions was won yesterday and the war against crime has weakened.”