South Africa: Police Corruption 'Will Flourish' If Scorpions Go

Posted to the web 24 July 2008 Chantelle Benjamin Johannesburg HIGH-level officers in the police would be above the law, in a force "already riddled with corruption", if legislation aimed at shutting down the Scorpions was passed, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation warned yesterday. The centre voiced its concerns in its written submission to Parliament yesterday, outlining its argument for the retention of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), or Scorpions as they are better known. Acknowledging that the Scorpions had some shortcomings, such as the fact that the unit was open to political pressure, the centre said these could be addressed without dissolving the unit. It cautioned the new legislation would give the national police commissioner the power to veto investigations that did not meet his... [read full story]