10 Apr 2008: ISS Seminar and Webcast, Pretoria: The Incorporation of the Scorpions Into the South African Police Service

ISS Seminar: The Incorporation of the Scorpions Into the South African Police Service
Pretoria, 10 April 2008

 

Webcast

 

<<< View Webcast >>>

 

Presented by the ISS Crime and Justice Programme

 

The decision taken by the African National Congress’ (ANC) 52nd National Conference to incorporate the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), popularly known as the ‘Scorpions’, into the South African Police Service (SAPS) has triggered mixed public reactions. There are those who argue that the decision may have been informed by the interests of some people in the leadership of the ANC who have either been investigated or convicted as a result of the work of the DSO. Others contend that the move is a corrective one, since, in their view, the DSO has largely operated outside the parameters of the law, and that it has allegedly been used in pursuit of narrow political agendas. Crucially, some in our society believe that the integration of the DSO into the SAPS will have an adverse impact on our country’s capacity to fight crime in general and organised crime in particular. Others even threaten court actions, should the decision be implemented.

 

Whether one agrees with any of these views or not, there is an incontrovertible reality: public interest in the matter is immense and the need for an open public debate cannot be denied. It is against this background that the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is hosting a high-level public seminar through which senior leaders of key political parties in South Africa can get to genuinely engage with the public and indeed with each other on the question of the ‘Scorpions’. The seminar is envisaged as follows:

 

Speakers

  • General Siphiwe Nyanda, National Working Committee Member, African National Congress
  • Mrs Sandra Botha MP, Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance
  • General Bantu Holomisa, Leader of the United Democratic Movement
  • Mrs Patricia De Lille, Leader of the Independent Democrats

 

Date: 10th April 2008

 

Venue: ISS Conference Room, Block C, Brooklyn Court, Veale Street, Tshwane
(Parking is available at Brooklyn Mall and ABSA parkades at own cost)

 

Time: 11h00 – 13h00 (Lunch will be provided)

 

RSVP: Busiswa Nyume; Email: [email protected]; Tel: (012) 346 9500; Fax (012) 4600997/8

 

This seminar is funded by the Hanns Seidel Foundation

 

Related content
South Africa