SA opposition parties unite to keep Scorpions

Opposition parties have united on a bid to retain the Scorpions

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Democratic Alliance (DA) , Independent Democrats (ID) and United Democratic Movement(UDM) have filed a joint submission in the Pretoria High Court as a friend of the court in support of a businessman Hugh Glenister's bid to stop the disbanding of the Scorpions, they said today.

Glenister launched a private application for an interdict against the move on constitutional grounds, which will be heard between May 20 and 22.

"Our contention is that the decision to pursue legislation disbanding the Scorpions was not made by any organ of state, but by the African National Congress (ANC) in an effort to protect its members from investigation and prosecution for alleged transgressions," the parties claimed in a joint statement.

Recognition as a friend of the court permits the parties to offer information that would assist the court in arriving at a decision.

DA chief whip Ian Davidson asked the Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete, in March to halt the legislative process to disband the Scorpions, pending the outcome of Glenister's challenge.

On Tuesday, the General Laws Amendment Bill, which would facilitate the Scorpions' move from the National Prosecuting Authority to the Safety and Security Department, was tabled.

Abuse of power
The parties alleged that the ANC's attempts to disband the Scorpions was an abuse of power and a subversion of democracy, and would weaken the country's crime fighting abilities.

They said the recent Khampepe Commission Report on the Scorpions dispelled virtually all of the concerns that had been raised by the ANC.

"To find the actual motive, one only needs look at the statements by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe at a press conference with the DA, that the Scorpions are being disbanded because they allegedly target ANC members," the statement said. - Sapa