The Case For and Against the Scorpions

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the arguments surrounding the decision by the ANC to incorporate the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions) into the South African Police Service (SAPS). It contrasts the police's resentment of the Scorpions' methods and perceived selectivity with the public's trust in the agency's ability to prosecute high-profile corruption, including cases involving senior government officials.

• The Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions) was established in 2000/01 as part of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to function as an FBI-like agency focused on combating high-profile corruption and organised crime in response to high levels of violent crime in South Africa.
• The South African Police Service (SAPS) resented the Scorpions, alleging that the agency took over cases with high success prospects that the police had already largely solved and used media attention to promote themselves, creating a public perception of superior efficiency.
• The public viewed the Scorpions as a trustworthy alternative to the police, particularly for reporting sensitive information on organised crime and corruption. This confidence was bolstered by the agency's willingness to investigate senior government and ANC officials, such as Jackie Selebi and Jacob Zuma.
• The ANC's December policy decision at the Polokwane National Conference to incorporate the Scorpions into the SAPS is viewed by some as an attempt to make the fight against corruption more selective and less effective, while others claim the agency was used by the 'Mbeki camp' to target political opponents like Zuma.
• The author argues that the legal claim that the Scorpions contravene section 199 (1) of the Constitution is unconvincing, noting that the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Act (No 61 of 2000) specifies that crime investigation is not the exclusive function of any single institution.

APA

Burger, J. (2008). The Case For and Against the Scorpions. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/31-jan-2008-iss-today-the-case-for-and-against-the-scorpions

Chicago

Burger, Johan. The Case For and Against the Scorpions. Institute for Security Studies, 2008. https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/31-jan-2008-iss-today-the-case-for-and-against-the-scorpions.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Burger |first1=Johan |title=The Case For and Against the Scorpions |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=31 January 2008 |url=https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/31-jan-2008-iss-today-the-case-for-and-against-the-scorpions |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{burger2008case, author = {Burger, Johan}, title = {{The Case For and Against the Scorpions}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = jan, url = {https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/31-jan-2008-iss-today-the-case-for-and-against-the-scorpions}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }