The South African Police Service (SAPS) is due to reply to submissions made on Monday arguing for the Khampepe commission into the future of the Scorpions to be open to the public.
The commission, headed by Judge Sisi Khampepe, is sitting in Pretoria.
It heard a submission from SAPS legal representative Philip Jacobs, who argued for the proceedings to be held in camera on the grounds of sensitive information about security and high-profile crimes.
Legal representatives of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), the Foundation for Human Rights and the National Intelligence Agency argued for the commission to operate in public.
”The president can only appoint a commission in matters of public concern. The whole object is to investigate a matter of public concern,” said DSO legal representative Marumo Moerane.
He argued that the police service did not make a case for a blanket exclusion of members of the public from the commission.
”We submit that it is a simple matter to sever the sensitive [information] from the non-sensitive and [that] greater harm would arise from the blanket expulsion of members of the public.”
President Thabo Mbeki appointed the commission in March to investigate the Scorpions’ future.
The commission adjourned and Khampepe is expected to decide whether it should be opened to the public after the SAPS replies to the submissions made by the other parties. — Sapa