The fate of the Scorpions will be discussed at a meeting between African National Congress (ANC) general secretary Gwede Mantashe and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille, the DA said on Monday.
The opposition leader called for a meeting with the ANC after a decision was taken to ”dissolve” the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions) and incorporate it into the South African Police Service.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday morning at the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, in Johannesburg.
The decision to dissolve the Scorpions sparked an outcry from opposition parties and civil society and Zille hopes, through Tuesday’s meeting, ”to get some answers” on the matter, said DA spokesperson Frits de Klerk.
Zille had earlier called for a meeting with ANC president Jacob Zuma, but according to De Klerk, was told that Mantashe has been mandated to deal with the matter.
The DA has repeatedly condemned the newly laid plans for the future of the crime-busting unit and hopes to put forward a case for its retention at Tuesday’s meeting.
Zille also hopes to determine if ”the ANC has any logical reasons, aside from its own interests, for dissolving a crime-fighting agency that has been as effective as the Scorpions”.
The ANC could not immediately be reached to confirm the meeting on Monday. — Sapa