Kingdom Mabuza

Kingdom Mabuza

The ANC's treasurer-general Mathews Phosa is in possession of an affidavit stating that the survival of the Scorpions depended on targeting senior party members.

Phosa told viewers of the 3rd degree programme on e.tv this week that the Scorpions were told at a meeting that to profile themselves, they had to charge ANC president Jacob Zuma, former Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, former transport minister Mac Maharaj and suspended police commissioner Jackie Selebi.

"These are political leaders, and one of them is the president of the ANC and the Scorpions survival depend on charging him. This is a political agenda and we have a problem with that," he said.

Phosa said the powers given to the Scorpions resulted in them "becoming a monster more powerful than Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla and Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula."

He said: "We need the Scorpions as part of the police, not as a private army which can be abused, and it has been abused."

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Tlali Tlali denied that such a meeting ever took place.

All investigations are properly motivated, well documented and authorised, said Tlali.

"Nobody wakes up in the morning and just decides that somebody should be investigated," Tlali said.