Varsity THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
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3 May 2011
Volume 70: Number 6
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Menzi Simelane discusses the Scorpions and his faith in government Alex Nagel & Stephanie Venter
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Tatane’s killers on trial page 4
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he youth “can and should ask diicult questions” about government actions and responsibilities, National Director of Public Prosecutions Menzi Simelane told students at a panel discussion on Wednesday 20 April. “You [the youth] may be students but you are members of society irst,” said Simelane. Simelane was one of three panellists at the UCT Black Law Students’ Forum’s event, “Catching the Scorpions’ Tail”. he event, held at the Kramer Law Building, discussed South Africa’s need for an autonomous anti-corruption unit. Professor Wouter de Vos and Aiheli Tshivhase, both lecturers at UCT’s Department of Public Law, completed the panel at the discussion. he discussion focused on the dissolution of the Directorate of Special Operations, known as the Scorpions, an anti-corruption unit established in 2001 to aid the South African Police Service in ighting crime. he unit was dissolved in January 2009 and replaced with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, usually referred to as the Hawks. Explaining the reason for the Scorpions’ creation, Simelane said, “Police needed to be assisted in its ight against crime because some crime is conducted by the police themselves.” However, the Scorpions worked relatively closely with state advocates and this caused suicient questioning about the legitimacy and independence of the unit, said Simelane. Professor de Vos argued that
Royal Afair
page 6
PEAK CONDITION – Runners take part in the annual Two Oceans marathon over the Easter weekend, supported by family and friends. the Scorpions’ dissolution revolved around a corrupt relationship with the police and “political intervention.”
the Scorpions’ dissolution revolved around a corrupt relationship with the police and “political intervention” Simelane felt that the South African government should not be permitted to interfere in the “interior motives” of the sector. “Whether it was independent is still subject to discussion,” stated Simelane, but the dissolution of the DSO was “perfectly legitimate”. he issue of corruption was raised and Simelane was asked what the
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ANC’s stance is on this “insidious disease,” as Professor de Vos referred to it. “here is a link between our rights and the realisation of the presence of corruption,” said Simelane; “Our government remains committed to ighting corruption.” Simelane concluded that it is crucial for South Africa to have an independent anti-corruption division; emphasising to the ministerial committee that “It’s not independent if you are there”. Simelane noted the “lack of trust” between the judges of the ministerial committee and the executives in the anti-corruption division. “here may be a trust issue,” he stated, “and these are the issues that this country [faces]”. his is where intervention by politicians is evident, and thus the Scorpions can no longer be labelled
independent, Simelane explained. he question “In what sense do you mean ‘we don’t trust the executives’?” was asked by a member of the audience. Simelane replied that the global public are growing increasingly sceptical of all politicians. “It’s believed once we vote you there you change,” he said. he government, commented Simelane, should take responsibility for their actions because the public “will be more dissatisied if they don’t get an explanation”. Another question posed to Simelane by a student was whether Simelane trusted the government. “I do,” stated Simelane, “because I work for them.” He also expressed faith as an employee of the government that “political leaders will deal with problems irrespective of race and class.”
Poormanities
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Worker’s Day feature page 15
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