The Scorpions
Directorate of Special Operations
DSODisbanded
Operational: 2001-01-12 · Disbanded: 2009-01-01
Replaced by: Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks)
93%
Conviction rate
549
Convictions
641
Investigations
R2bn
Assets seized
287
Cases transferred at dissolution
See: What happened to these cases?
Plain English
Imagine a special school squad whose job was to catch cheaters at the very top. They had detectives, maths experts (forensic accountants), and the teachers who decide punishment (prosecutors) — all working together. They caught nearly everyone they went after. Then the school leaders voted to shut them down. Many people believe it was because the squad was getting too close to catching the school leaders themselves.
The Scorpions were South Africa's most powerful anti-corruption unit. They combined the skills of detectives, forensic accountants, and prosecutors into one team — meaning they could investigate AND prosecute the same case. They were known for raiding the homes of very powerful politicians. They had a conviction rate of over 90%. They were disbanded in 2009 after the ANC conference in Polokwane voted to shut them down — a decision many believe was made to protect politicians being investigated.
To investigate and prosecute serious organised crime and high-level corruption using an integrated "troika" approach combining prosecutors, criminal investigators, and forensic analysts in one team. Unlike SAPS, the Scorpions sat within the NPA — enabling prosecution-led investigations where prosecutors directed evidence collection from the start.
How they worked
What made them different
Sat within the NPA (not SAPS) — giving it prosecutorial independence. Could both investigate AND prosecute the same case. Had the power to arrest (unlike commissions and the SIU). Had subpoena powers. Was not subject to the Police Commissioner (who at the time was being investigated by the Scorpions themselves). This independence is what made it effective — and what made it a target.
Why was it disbanded?
The ANC resolved at its 52nd National Conference at Polokwane in December 2007 to disband the Scorpions and move their functions to SAPS. Parliament passed the amendments on 23 October 2008 (252 votes to 63). President Kgalema Motlanthe signed them into law in January 2009. The move was widely criticised as politically motivated — the Scorpions were at the time investigating Jacob Zuma and his allies over the Arms Deal. The last raid the Scorpions ever conducted was on BAE Systems offices in November 2008, linked to the Arms Deal probe.
The evidence
- The ANC Polokwane conference vote coincided with Jacob Zuma — who was being investigated by the Scorpions — winning the ANC presidency.
- The Scorpions had reinstated corruption charges against Zuma at the time of disbanding.
- Their last investigation was into BAE Systems in the Arms Deal — directly linked to Zuma.
- The Hawks subsequently dropped the Arms Deal investigation.
- The Constitutional Court later ruled in the Glenister cases that the Hawks lacked sufficient independence and were open to political interference.
- ANC leaders have since publicly admitted disbanding the Scorpions was a mistake.
This is The Record's assessment based on public evidence, court findings, and official statements.
Leadership history
| Name | Title | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Dutton | Deputy Director: Investigations | 1999 – 2001 |
| Percy Sonn | Deputy NDPP: DSO | 2001 – 2003 |
| Leonard McCarthy | Deputy NDPP: DSO | 2003 – 2008 |
Commission link
Khampepe Commission investigated the The Scorpions
What they found
Recommended the Scorpions continue independently. The report was suppressed for nine years and only released in 2015. The Scorpions were disbanded in 2008 regardless of the finding.
High-Profile Cases
2001–2009
BAE Systems Arms Deal Investigation
BAE SystemsMultiple executivesBribery in connection with the Strategic Defence Package — the Arms Deal
Transferred to HawksR70bn involvedOutcome detail
The Scorpions' final ever operation was a raid on BAE Systems offices in Pretoria and Cape Town in November 2008 — two months before the Scorpions were disbanded. The case was transferred to the Hawks. BAE later settled with UK/US authorities for £280m in 2010 but faced no South African prosecution.
2001–2009
Investigation into Jacob Zuma — Arms Deal Corruption
Jacob ZumaCorruption and fraud — 780+ charges relating to accepting bribes through Schabir Shaik in connection with the Strategic Defence Package (Arms Deal)
Transferred to NPAR70bn involvedOutcome detail
The Scorpions investigated Zuma and reinstated charges against him at the time of their dissolution. The case was transferred when the Scorpions were disbanded. Charges were subsequently dropped by the NPA in 2009 in a controversial decision — later found by courts to have been improperly made. The case was reinstated in 2018 and remains before court as of 2025 with no verdict.
Plain English
The Scorpions were closing in on Jacob Zuma when they were shut down. The charges were dropped after the Scorpions were disbanded. 16 years later, the case is still in court. No verdict has been reached.
2001–2005
State v Schabir Shaik — Arms Deal Corruption
Schabir ShaikCorruption — paying bribes to Jacob Zuma for political protection in connection with the Arms Deal
ConvictedR1.2bn involvedOutcome detail
Convicted 8 June 2005. Sentenced to 15 years. Released on medical parole in 2009 after serving 2 years — the parole decision was itself controversial. Medical parole later revoked but not implemented. Shaik played golf and attended public events while officially on medical parole.
Plain English
The man who paid bribes to Jacob Zuma was convicted. He went to prison but was released early, supposedly because he was very sick. He was then photographed playing golf.
2001–2006
State v Tony Yengeni — Arms Deal Fraud
Tony YengeniFraud — failing to disclose a discount on a luxury 4x4 vehicle received as a benefit from EADS, an Arms Deal supplier
ConvictedOutcome detail
Convicted 2006. Sentenced to 4 years. Served less than a year before parole. Returned to ANC leadership after release. He was Chief Whip of the ANC in Parliament at the time of the offence.
Plain English
An ANC leader accepted a discounted luxury car from a company that was trying to win a government weapons contract. He was convicted and jailed but released early. He returned to politics after his release.
2004
State v Mark Thatcher — Mercenary Activity
Mark ThatcherFinancing a mercenary operation — coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea
Plea dealR3m involvedOutcome detail
Arrested at his Cape Town home August 2004. Pleaded guilty in the Cape Town High Court. Fined R3 million and given a suspended sentence. Deported from South Africa. Son of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
2005–2006
State v Multiple MPs — Travelgate Parliamentary Fraud
Bathabile Dlamini50+ ANC MPs and staffFraud — misuse of parliamentary travel vouchers worth approximately R35 million
ConvictedR35m involvedOutcome detail
Over 30 MPs including Bathabile Dlamini convicted on fraud or related charges. 38 cases concluded. Many repaid the money. The Scorpions were the first to prosecute MPs for fraud in the history of South African democracy.
2006–2010
State v Jackie Selebi — Corruption
Jackie SelebiGlenn AgliottiCorruption — accepting bribes from convicted drug trafficker and murder suspect Glenn Agliotti while serving as National Police Commissioner
ConvictedOutcome detail
Selebi convicted July 2010 — AFTER the Scorpions had been disbanded. The case was begun by the Scorpions but concluded by the NPA. Sentenced to 15 years. Released on medical parole. During the case, chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel of the Scorpions was himself briefly arrested in what was widely seen as an attempt to derail the prosecution. NPA head Vusi Pikoli was suspended while the case was active — also widely seen as interference.
Plain English
The head of the entire South African police — the top cop — was convicted of taking bribes from a drug dealer. This happened while the Scorpions were already investigating corruption within the police. The prosecutor on the case was briefly arrested in what many believed was an attempt to stop the case.
What happened to transferred cases
287
Cases transferred
38
Convictions after transfer
93%
Scorpions conviction rate (benchmark)
~15%
Approx. rate on transferred caseload (Hawks era)
287 cases transferred to Hawks/SAPS in 2008. 164 transferred to Commercial Crime units. 48 to Organised Crime units. 17 to OCPI approach. 55 ready for closure. 261 arrests from these cases produced only 38 convictions — compared to the Scorpions' 93.1% rate. The Arms Deal investigation, which the Scorpions had been actively pursuing including the BAE Systems raid in November 2008, was quietly shut down by the Hawks after the transfer.
Legacy
8 years
Related stories
Timeline
Events drawn from every story linked to this unit — the rise-and-fall spine in one place.