South Africa’s Highest Court Says Ending Scorpions Invalid
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South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled legislation which replaced the Scorpions crime fighting unit with the Hawks was “constitutionally invalid,” because the Hawks are “vulnerable to political interference.”
The ruling African National Congress in October 2008 disbanded the Scorpions, which had investigated corruption charges against Jacob Zuma, who became party leader the year before. Prosecutors dropped charges of corruption, racketeering, fraud, money laundering and tax evasion against Zuma in April 2009, the same month he won elections to become the leader of Africa’s biggest economy.