Eric Naki

Eric Naki

The battle for the control of the Scorpions is heating up and the government and the ruling ANC party are facing opposition from all fronts about the disbanding of the elite unit.

Sunday Times reported yesterday that President Thabo Mbeki is fighting to preserve the Scorpions, officially known as the Directorate of Special Operations.

The paper said the ANC had appointed a special committee in parliament to ensure that the unit was dissolved by the deadline, which was decided at the party's national conference held in Polokwane Limpopo last December.

Yesterday the Democratic Alliance (DA) justice spokesman and MP, Tertius Delport said the DA would write to Speaker Baleka Mbete today requesting her assurance that the proper Parliamentary procedure would be followed regarding the disbanding of the Scorpions.

"If there is any sense that Parliament is seen to be doing Luthuli House's dirty work, then we will not hesitate to challenge the process through all appropriate channels, legal or otherwise," said Delport.