By Political Bureau
The days of the elite crime-fighting unit, the Scorpions, are numbered.
The Scorpions will be disbanded by June next year at the latest, according to discussions at the ANC's national conference on Wednesday.
It is not clear what the effect will be on pending cases, especially into police chief Jackie Selebi and ANC president Jacob Zuma.
Scorpions investigators will find a new home in the SA Police Service, while their prosecutors will remain in the National Prosecuting Authority and the justice department.
The news on the fate of the Scorpions emerged after the peace and stability commission agreed at the ANC's conference on Wednesday that the unit be disbanded.
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Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula confirmed that the commission had met and that it had endorsed the ANC's June policy conference proposal. All that remains is the official stamp of approval, when the proposal is put before the ANC conference plenary for the final decision.
"The commission has taken the decision to dissolve the Scorpions, but the conference ultimately decides," Nqakula said.
On Wednesday, ANC delegates attending the commission said the view was that the Scorpions were responsible for their own downfall.
The perception that the crimefighting unit was used by senior government officials to target Zuma was said to be one of the principal reasons for its demise.
The unit has often been claimed to be an example of President Thabo Mbeki's alleged abuse of power.
The failure of the Khampepe Commission and the perception that the Presidency had intervened to stop suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli from arresting Selebi on several charges were cited as other reasons for Wednesday's decision.
The ANC is also expected to call for the metro police to fall under the command of the police commissioner.
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This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on December 20, 2007
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