Row as ANC moves to disband South African 'FBI'

Africa: It sounds like the ANC doesn't care for people looking into its corrupt politicians. Damn shame they seem to be turning themselves into a banana republic.

The elite South African anti-crime unit that targeted the new African National Congress leader, Jacob Zuma, in a corruption investigation is to be disbanded. The party claims the FBI-style force known as the Scorpions employed "Hollywood tactics" against Zuma when raiding several of his and his lawyer's properties in 2005. Zuma, who deafeated the country's president, Thabo Mbeki, for the ANC leadership, is due to stand trial later this year charged with bribery, fraud, racketeering, money-laundering and tax evasion. It is not clear how the disbandment will affect the trial. The security minister, Charles Nqakula, announced the decision to parliament today. To cheers from ANC deputies, he said: "The Scorpions will be dissolved and the organised crime unit of the police will be phased out and a new amalgamated unit created." Nqakula insisted that tackling organised crime remained a key government priority. "We need proper measures, better human and material resources to achieve our goals in the fight against all crime," he said. The Scorpions represents the investigation arm of the national prosecuting authority. However, police view the unit as invading its jurisdiction. ....The Scorpions also led the inquiry into South Africa's police chief and head of Interpol, Jackie Selebi, who has been charged with corruption for accepting bribes from a convicted drug trafficker in return for protecting drug shipments, passing on secret reports from the UK and interfering with a murder inquiry. Although the disbandment must be still be ratified by parliament, given the ANC's domination, the move seems inevitable.