Black+Scorpions+Revolt,+Mandla+Zulu,+City+Press



=Black Scorpions Revolt=


 * Mandla Zulu, City Press, 25 November 2007**

//Investigators support Pikoli’s suspension alleging he was part of an anti-black plot//

A group of disgruntled, mostly black members of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), informally known as the Scorpions, have penned a hard-hitting document backing the suspension of their boss, Vusi Pikoli.

In the document, titled Genesis of the Crisis, the investigators say President Thabo Mbeki was correct to suspend Pikoli. They accuse Pikoli of being used by a reactionary clique with an anti-black agenda.

The 13-page document, which is neither signed nor dated, makes references to the review panel currently looking into the case against Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi. The document attacks the credibility of witnesses relied on by the Scorpions in their case against Selebi.

The document says it all started when Selebi and Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla suggested the Scorpions should be incorporated into the police service at the Khampepe Commission of Enquiry.

The disenchanted investigators say the Scorpions vowed then not to co-operate with Mabandla as she was perceived to be hostile and antagonistic to their actions.

When Paul O’Sullivan, the former head of security at Airports Company SA, provided information that could be used against Selebi, this was enthusiastically embraced because the police had also started an investigation into the DSO’s alleged mismanagement of the Confidential Fund (C-Fund).

Former head of Scorpions operations Geoff Ledwaba is currently on trial at the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court for fraud relating to the C-Fund.

Dawood Adam, a manager in charge of the C-Fund, is also under investigation by Willie Hofmeyer’s Special Investigations Unit for his alleged role in the abuse of the C-Fund.

Gerrie Nel, head of the DSO in Gauteng, is also under police investigation for defeating the ends of justice.

He allegedly tried to cover up a fraud investigation of his friend, Cornwell Tshavhungwa. Police have now been refused access to C-Fund records that do not relate to Ledwaba.

A daily newspaper has reported that Scorpions head Leonard McCarthy has been implicated in the mismanagement of the C-Fund and would be summoned as a witness to explain how it was run.

The document says the Scorpions fear that once they are incorporated into the police, the C-Fund books will be open to Selebi and his group, who could use them to get back at DSO management.

“The real issue around the arrest of the commissioner is more to do with the autonomy of the DSO and the (antagonistic) attitude of the commissioner towards the DSO.

“At one stage information was received that the head of the DSO told the police that if they stop the C-Fund investigation the DSO will also stop probing the police,” the document reads.

“It is a fact that a number of individuals at various levels are implicated in the C-Fund irregularities, therefore the autonomy of the DSO will be an important damage control mechanism to neutralise or even make the investigations disappear.

“He (McCarthy) always boasts of the slush fund that he has, which he says he uses at will. This is very important to him, more particularly in relation to the management of C-Funds, which he believes should not be subject to audit by the auditor-general…”

NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali refused to answer questions relating to the document, saying his organisation was not in the habit of responding to allegations… made by anonymous persons”.

Tlali said the NPA was aware “of the investigation against Gerrie Nel; tha the matter is a police investigation and that all queries relating to all aspects of that investigation should be directed to the SA Police Service”.

The investigators claim the decision to charge Selebi was rushed because of the recommendations of the ANC policy conference and that the DSO decided to rely on criminals for evidence in exchange for their pardons. They ask why a warrant and a search and seizure order were requested at the same time. “Did we not learn from the Zuma matter?” This decision is now the subject of a review panel appointed by acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe following Pikoli’s suspension.

On race, the document says in part: “The majority of DSO senior management is white and the head of the DSO has always believed that white persons are (the) only ones best suited to do the work of the DSO.”

The minutes of a June 25 meeting where McCarthy allegedly called for the prioritisation of investigations against ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma, Mac Maharaj and Ngoako Ramatlhodi, were also leaked by people who believe the DSO harboured bad intentions against these leaders.


 * Transcribed by hand from the hard copy.**

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