Need for Scorpions no longer exists – Popcru

‘The SA Police Service (SAPS) has undergone serious transformation and has the skills, training and capability to deal with the crimes the Scorpions deal with,’ said Popcru deputy general secretary Nkosinathi Theledi. The commission headed by Judge Sisi Khampepe is deciding whether the Scorpions should be incorporated into the SAPS or remain part of the National Prosecuting Authority, as its Directorate of Special Operations. Members of the crime-fighting unit were initially attracted by its favourable working conditions – depleting the capacity of SAPS and other law enforcement agencies, said Theledi. ‘This state of events was not intended by President Thabo Mbeki,’ he said. Full report on the News24 site

On the other side of the fence, the DA’s Sheila Camerer told the commission the Scorpions strengthened the fight against crime, having achieved a conviction rate higher than 90% in comparison to an 8% conviction rate by the police serious and violent crimes units, says an SABC News report. The SAPS last week argued that their skills were sufficient to deal with the crime load, but Camerer said higher salary scales enabled the Scorpions to attract and retain a number of skilled people. Full SABC News report