IFP PROPOSES SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER SCORPIONS

FULL TEXT OF SPEECH BY MR V. B. NDLOVU MP,
DEBATE ON THE ROLE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, 
THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT - THE SCORPIONS

CAPE TOWN, NOVEMBER 11, 1999

Madam Speaker.

The establishment of the special investigations directorate, known as the Scorpions was welcomed by the Inkatha Freedom Party when it was announced by President Mbeki.

We supported the establishment of this body because it was clear that there were a number of categories of crime with which the SAPS, as currently organised, was unable to cope.

There was clearly a need for a unit that could focus on serious national crime. This was in line with the IFP's belief that there are different levels of crime, which need to be tackled in different ways.

The Scorpions will allow the police at provincial level to get on with the investigation and elimination of the majority of crimes, whilst the Scorpions investigate those very serious crimes that cut across provincial or even national borders.

However, in order to prevent confusion, duplication and rivalry between the police, the Scorpions and other special investigative units, the government must clearly set out in legislation, the areas in which the Scorpions will operate. 

The IFP believes that these areas should be limited to serious national crimes such as:

• Criminal activity by syndicates
• Serial killers
• Crime which crosses international borders
• The forfeiture of assets

The point is that there must be clarity. We do not want to see the sort of rivalry that exists in some countries between the various security services. 

We have too much to do to cut crime, to allow the security forces to argue amongst themselves.

The Inkatha Freedom Party therefore awaits the legislation with interest. We urge the Government to ensure that the legislation clearly sets out the role of the Scorpions, their powers and their modus operandi. The Bill must draw clear lines between the role of the Scorpions, of the police and of the special units in the SAPS such as the SANEB.

Most importantly, the legislation must provide for strong Parliamentary oversight over the Scorpions.

We need to have that legislation now. The Scorpions are desperately needed in order to turn the heat onto the criminals but we must ensure that they can never be misused, turned upon the law-abiding citizen or manipulated for shadowy political purposes.

On the day that the Scorpions were announced by President Mbeki, I offered the IFP's support to this initiative but I warned that it would be vital that the unit remained free from political interference and was not used as a tool for politically motivated harassment.

I repeat that warning to the National Assembly today. Our democracy is young and fragile and if we are to cherish and nurture it, we must be on our guard at all times against the misuse of organs of the state for party political purposes.

That is why it is vital to have effective Parliamentary oversight of the Scorpions.

The IFP proposes the establishment of a special Parliamentary Committee, selected from members of the Justice and the Safety and Security Portfolio Committees, whose role would be to maintain a close eye on the activities of the Scorpions. They would oversee the important work of this unit and ensure that its powers were not misused.

I hope that the Government will willingly accept the need for this sort of oversight. If they fail to do so then there will be a great deal of suspicion in the country about the true purposes of the Scorpions and we do not want the work of this unit to be hampered by mistrust. 

Madam Speaker

The Inkatha Freedom Party stands side by side with the people of South Africa in the battle against crime. We share their belief that it is time that criminals started to feel the heat of the law enforcement agencies. We believe that the Scorpions, if used properly, will prove an effective weapon in our common crusade against crime.

But we require that the unit comes under proper democratic scrutiny and control so that at all times it will be used against the criminals and never against the people.

For further information:

Mr V B Ndlovu MP 021 403 3075 (office) 083 625 0803 (cell)

Jonny Oates IFP Media Office 082 649 7584