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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| SA moves to scrap Scorpions unit | SA moves to scrap Scorpions unit |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| South Africa's security minister has tabled a proposal in parliament calling for the FBI-style Scorpions special investigations unit to be disbanded. | South Africa's security minister has tabled a proposal in parliament calling for the FBI-style Scorpions special investigations unit to be disbanded. |
| The Scorpions was set up in 1999 to fight organised crime and corruption and works separately from the police. | The Scorpions was set up in 1999 to fight organised crime and corruption and works separately from the police. |
| It has led the investigations into African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma and ex-police chief Jackie Selebi. | |
| The move has been condemned by the opposition, which says the ruling ANC is trying to protect its leader. | The move has been condemned by the opposition, which says the ruling ANC is trying to protect its leader. |
| The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the unit is one of the most effective crime fighting forces in South Africa but it has become embroiled in a bitter political row. | The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the unit is one of the most effective crime fighting forces in South Africa but it has become embroiled in a bitter political row. |
| There are concerns that evidence in high profile cases could be lost if the Scorpions was incorporated into the police services. | There are concerns that evidence in high profile cases could be lost if the Scorpions was incorporated into the police services. |
| 'Separate' | 'Separate' |
| From the moment Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula began talking about dissolving the Scorpions, parliament erupted into cheers and jeers. | From the moment Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula began talking about dissolving the Scorpions, parliament erupted into cheers and jeers. |
| The ANC's backbenchers applauded the move that the party leaders endorsed in December. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7220409.stm">Sting in the tail for Scorpions? | |
| He said the Directorate of Special Operations would be disbanded and its investigation responsibilities taken away from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). | He said the Directorate of Special Operations would be disbanded and its investigation responsibilities taken away from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). |
| "The Scorpions... will be dissolved and the organised crime unit of the police will be phased out and a new amalgamated unit will be created," he said. | "The Scorpions... will be dissolved and the organised crime unit of the police will be phased out and a new amalgamated unit will be created," he said. |
| "It is better to keep investigating units separate from prosecuting units for better command and control." | "It is better to keep investigating units separate from prosecuting units for better command and control." |
| Our correspondent says there is still a lot of parliamentary procedure to go through before the Scorpions are finished as an independent force, but given the ANC's dominance it now seems inevitable. | Our correspondent says there is still a lot of parliamentary procedure to go through before the Scorpions are finished as an independent force, but given the ANC's dominance it now seems inevitable. |
| Mr Zuma, who is favourite to become South Africa's president next year, has always said that the corruption charges against him are a political conspiracy. | Mr Zuma, who is favourite to become South Africa's president next year, has always said that the corruption charges against him are a political conspiracy. |
| He is due to go on trial in August. | He is due to go on trial in August. |
| The ANC wants the Scorpions to be disbanded by June and incorporated into the police force. | The ANC wants the Scorpions to be disbanded by June and incorporated into the police force. |
| Earlier this month, a court provisionally charged the former police chief with corruption, accepting bribes worth 1.2m rand ($160,000, £80,000) and defeating the course of justice, after investigations by the Scorpions. | Earlier this month, a court provisionally charged the former police chief with corruption, accepting bribes worth 1.2m rand ($160,000, £80,000) and defeating the course of justice, after investigations by the Scorpions. |
| Mr Selebi was not required to plead but he has previously denied the charges. | Mr Selebi was not required to plead but he has previously denied the charges. |