NPC: Thieves Want Anti-Corruption Agency After Disbanding Scorpions in 2009

The 2022 National Policy Conference of the ruling party, the African National Congress which was held in Nasrec, leaves too way much to be desired following a proposal to establish and create an anti-corruption agency.   

With three provinces publicly spearheading the repeal or review of the step-aside one would expect the ruling party to address s the matter to be once and for all and not to refer it to the national conference more so when the issue of fighting corruption took a centre stage and instead of being deliberate the ANC chose to pussyfoot. 

The ANC’s way of fighting corruption will always be a lost battle because it was the same ANC that resolved to disband the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions) following Polokwane 2007 where former president Jacob Zuma ousted former president Thabo Mbeki. 

With corruption at every level of government so high with allegations against ANC deployees the delegates thought it would be ideal to independent corruption buster which sounds like a hyena volunteering to look after goats. 

While many view this as a victory for the incumbent after efforts from KZN were neutralized, it would be naive to think those opposing Step-Aside also think this is a victory as they were able to weigh their strength and will mobilize branches and take the fight to the National Conference. 

Having heard how delegates proposed castration for rapists what caught our attention was how the party wants to fight corruption and this year marks 13 years since the ANC used its majority in parliament to disband Scorpions. 

The Scorpions were replaced by the Hawks. The elite crime busters were involved high in several extremely high-profile investigations, especially into Arms Deal and into high-ranking ANC politicians including Jackie Selebi, Jacob Zuma, and Tony Yengeni.   

The Scorpions also prosecuted Winnie Madikizela Mandela and her brother for fraud. In 2004, they arrested Mark Thatcher, the son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, at his house in Cape Town, concerning his suspected involvement in the coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea the same year. He pled guilty to contravening the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998. 

In 2005, the Scorpions charged forty or more Members of Parliament (MPs), primarily ANC members, with fraud, in the so-called “Travelgate”.  More than thirty MPs, including former Social Development Minister, Bathabile Dlamini, were ultimately convicted on fraud or related charges. 

And, from 2006 the Scorpions investigated National Commissioner and close Thabo Mbeki ally Jackie Selebi, also for corruption. Selebi was ultimately convicted.  

The Scorpions also investigated and charged mafia don Vito Palazzolo, and mining magnate Billy Rautenbach, both on drug smuggling charges and charges related to the death of ANC donor Brett Kebble – Glen Agliotti.

The Scorpions died a political death and 15 years later the ANC now wants to establish what they disbanded.  

It is not clear what the ANC members have in mind maybe they want the Scorpions they killed to be resuscitated.

Time will tell.

President Ramaphosa even conceded ANC is accussed number and state capture laid everythin bare for everyone to see. Amasela now want the key of the cookie jar.

Is there a policy that the ruling party ensured is fully implemented and properly executed? 

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