The Scorpions are said to be the most successful unit in terms of achievement in investigation and prosecution rates. If it is true, they have to be applauded.

The Scorpions are said to be the most successful unit in terms of achievement in investigation and prosecution rates. If it is true, they have to be applauded.

I think that it only appears that they are so successful because, from the beginning, the unit embarked on a campaign of blowing their own horn, being accompanied by the media whenever and wherever they mounted operations. In most cases, they leaked information to the media.

Former head Bulelani Ngcuka was reported to have had secret meetings with media representatives to buy loyalty and support. The Scorpions receive the "best crime fighting unit" accolades only from people opposed to the ANC because they have persecuted several of its leaders.

These people find the unit a worthy ally, to weaken the movement of the majority. If SAPS' specialised investigation units embarked on similar campaigns they would have recorded better results.

We who live in the apartheid slums have little or no interest in cases of government officials involved in fraud or corruption because we witness worse crimes daily. Sadly, corruption and fraud are also found in the Scorpions. If the unit is so successful and it is the desire of all South Africans to see these successes increased, why oppose processes aimed at ensuring that their expertise is expanded and shared with other specialised policing units to record more successes?

Mokotedi Mokotedi, Alexandra