| Directorate of Special Operations | |
|---|---|
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| Common name | The Scorpions |
| Abbreviation | DSO |
| Motto | "Justice in action" |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | January 2001 |
| Dissolved | January 2009 |
| Superseding agency | Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation |
| Employees | 536 |
| Annual budget | R429 million (2008–09) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | South Africa |
| Constituting instrument | |
| Operational structure | |
| Overseen by | Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | National Prosecuting Authority |
The Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), commonly known as the Scorpions, was a specialised unit of the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa formed by President Thabo Mbeki, tasked with investigating and prosecuting high-level and priority crimes including organised crime and corruption.[1] An independent and multidisciplinary unit with a unique methodology which combined investigation, forensic intelligence, and prosecution, the Scorpions were known as an elite unit,[2][3] and were involved in several extremely high-profile investigations, especially into the Arms Deal and into high-ranking African National Congress (ANC) politicians including Jackie Selebi, Jacob Zuma, and Tony Yengeni.
President Thabo Mbeki announced the establishment of the Scorpions in June 1999, promising "a special and adequately staffed and equipped investigative unit... to deal with all national priority crime, including police corruption."[4] Though formally launched in Gugulethu on 1 September 1999 as the Directorate of Special Investigations,[5] the unit did not legally or operationally come into existence until January 2001, by which time it had been renamed DSO.[2][3] It was formally disbanded in January 2009 and replaced by the Hawks, a move pushed through Parliament by the ANC and often alleged to have been politically motivated.[6][7][8]
- ^ Kanyegirire, Andrew (8 March 2016). "Investigating the investigators: A summary of the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry". South African Crime Quarterly (24). doi:10.17159/2413-3108/2008/v0i24a953. ISSN 2413-3108.
- ^ a b Montesh, Moses (8 March 2016). "Countering corruption in South Africa: The rise and fall of the Scorpions and Hawks". South African Crime Quarterly (39). ISSN 2413-3108.
- ^ a b Mashele, Prince (8 March 2006). "Will the Scorpion still sting?: The future of the Directorate of Special Operations". South African Crime Quarterly (17). doi:10.17159/2413-3108/2006/v0i17a992. ISSN 2413-3108.
- ^ "Scorpions target South African crime". BBC. 1 September 1999. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Scorpions will target organised crime". IOL. 2 September 1999. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:9was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Sole, Sam (10 February 2009). "South Africa and the Scorpions: The Slow Death of an Elite Anti-Corruption Squad". Global Integrity. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Scorpions disbanding unconstitutional". The Mail & Guardian. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2021.