The African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) is concerned about news confirming the disbanding of the Directorate of Special Operations, South Africa?s specialised unit located within the independent National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dedicated to fighting corruption and organised crime known as the Scorpions.

?With this decision, South Africa has compromised its anti-corruption advances?, said Matthew Clarke, communications officer of AICC. ?We at AICC would have hoped that The Scorpions unit and the crimes it could stop would not fall victim to political battles. The unit has a successful track record of investigating and prosecuting.?

The chain of events leading to the disbanding of the Scorpions unit was initiated by an African National Congress (ANC) party National Executive Council (NEC) meeting resolution issued in December. This is troubling given that some NEC members were under investigation by the Scorpions. In this context, the disbanding deals a serious blow to the integrity of the ruling ANC party, the Cabinet and the government of South Africa.

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?We at AICC would hope that the government and all South Africans would stand up for the fight against corruption by defending the continuity of the Scorpions unit," said Clarke.

The Scorpions, which will now be folded into the South African Police Services, has been an outstanding independent investigative unit in Africa and globally since beginning operations in 2001. The Scorpions? skills and commitment have led to conviction rates of up to 93 per cent, yet South African President Thabo Mbeki has now approved its disbanding. Scorpions head, Leonard McCarthy, was appointed last week to head the World Bank?s Department of Institutional Integrity, the institution?s anti-corruption arm.