Scorpions ride into the sunset

The African National Congress’s decision to disband the Scorpions is to be deplored. Why would it mess with such a successful unit? There can only be one answer — the Scorpions have been too successful, especially in the pursuit of high-ranking political figures.

As Business Day newspaper said in an unusual
Zimbabwe’s former finance minister Simba Makoni — who announced his bid to challenge President Robert Mugabe in presidential elections next month — on Thursday taunted the octogenarian leader, suggesting he could unseat Mugabe as the ruling party’s candidate and stand for the presidency in his place.

2. Phumzile: ‘Maybe I should quit’
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is weighing her options as the country’s deputy president. This has emerged as momentum gathers for African National Congress deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to take her place in government.

3. Eskom: Anatomy of a catastrophe
Eskom’s countdown to catastrophe began in 2000 when it had enough coal stockpiled to last 61 days. Last month, when it shut down the country’s mines, the stockpiles were down to less than three days’ supply.

4. Mbeki mulls future of Scorpions
The “specialist nature” of the Scorpions might well be retained, wherever the unit is finally located, President Thabo Mbeki said on Sunday.

5. We shall overcome, says Mbeki
South Africa remains on course to become a winning nation, said President Thabo Mbeki on Friday during his State of the Nation address in Parliament — but, he added, “I am aware of the fact that many in our society are troubled by a deep sense of unease about where our country will be tomorrow”.

6. Nqakula: Scorpions to be dissolved
South Africa’s elite, FBI-style Scorpions anti-crime unit will be dissolved, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Tuesday.

7. Praise, optimism after State of the Nation
The African National Congress (ANC) parliamentary caucus was full of praise on Friday for President Thabo Mbeki’s State of the Nation address.

8. Moosa in R38-billion tender conflict
Eskom board chair Valli Moosa presided over the parastatal giving contracts worth billions to African National Congress (ANC) funding company Chancellor House — while also serving on the ANC’s fundraising committee.

9. Report: Mbeki was told of Selebi graft probe
President Thabo Mbeki failed to take action despite being told South Africa’s police commissioner faced prosecution over his alleged links to organised crime, the Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.

10. Mugabe election prospects weaken as rifts appear
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who only days ago looked assured of re-election next month as a result of splits in the opposition, now has to contend with a growing mutiny within his own ranks.