The ANC is disbanding the Scorpions to protect the criminals in its own ranks and possibly also to cover-up even greater corruption in the Arms Deal than has already been made public, DA leader Helen Zille has suggested.
But the ANC has dismissed Zille's claims as "tired allegations that she's said over and over" and says the real reasons for the elite crime-busting unit's demise were clearly spelled out in the resolution taken at its Polokwane conference in December.
Speaking at Wits University on Thursday night, Zille pointed out that there were seven convicted criminals on the ANC's National Executive Committee and six NEC members were currently the subject of criminal investigations.
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"At least two of these, Ngoako Ramathlodi and Thaba Mufamadi, are currently being investigated by the Scorpions for alleged corruption," her speech notes state.
'At least two of these are currently being investigated' "Furthermore, there is every chance that the dismantling of the Scorpions and the rush to do so before June is an indication of a greater cover-up in the ANC.
"It is often said that Zuma and Shaik are only the tip of the Arms Deal iceberg is it wildly unrealistic to speculate that the ANC is closing down the Scorpions to block any further investigation into the Arms Deal, just as it neutered the Standing Committee on Public Accounts?
"Is it absurd to suggest that the ANC could be blocking the Scorpions to prevent another major corruption scandal from emerging into the public domain?"
Her remarks come as an online petition headed "SOS Save Our Scorpions!" is being circulated.
By 4.30pm on Thursday, 3 335 people had signed it.
'Is it absurd to suggest...' In her lecture part of the university's "Platform for Public Deliberations" speaker series Zille said some people argued that restructuring the Scorpions was merely about improving efficiency.
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