2005-10-08,+Mabandla+drops+Scorpions+bombshell,+Business+Day


 * Business Day, Johannesburg, (front page) 07 October 2005**

= Mabandla drops Scorpions bombshell =

Legal Affairs Correspondent**
 * Ernest Mabuza

JUSTICE Minister Brigitte Mabandla dropped a bombshell at the Khampepe commission yesterday when she urged the commissioner to move the Scorpions unit from her department’s control.

Although she did not say where the unit should move to, Mabandla said that the relationship between the police and the Scorpions had “irretrievably” broken down and the lack of co-operation and co-ordination between the agencies might undermine law enforcement, stability and security.

Mabandla’s submission will come as a boost to the South African Police Service’s (SAPS’s) call for the unit to be moved into its control. The Scorpions’ unit is under the ambit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which reports to Mabandla.

The Khampepe commission, headed by Judge Sisi Khampepe, was established by President Thabo Mbeki after conflicts between the unit, the police and senior politicians. Mabandla is chairwoman of the ministerial co-ordinating committee, established under the NPA Amendment Act, to determine policy guidelines on the functioning of the Scorpions and to co-ordinate their activities with those of other law-enforcement agencies.

In a submission read by her counsel Dabi Khumalo, she said only six meetings had taken place since she took office and there had been insufficient opportunities to develop the guidelines because of the SAPS’ mistrust of the Scorpions’ approach.

Mabandla said the Scorpions’ investigation of serious crimes overlapped with those of the police. She said in order for such investigations to succeed, both agencies would have to share information with each other.

“I am advised that such coordination and co-operation expected between the (Scorpions) and the SAPS did not satisfy the level that was expected and required,” Mabandla said.

She said it was important to focus on whether the reasons for the establishment of the Scorpions still existed.

She said when the unit was created, SA faced a serious threat from criminal syndicates.

From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A99720