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Since the nation of South Africa ended apartheid in 1994, the country's law enforcement has been overwhelmed by violent crime and unable to effectively address greatly increased crime problems. Faced with this reality and ongoing corruption problems, President Thabo Mbeki recognized that it was time to build a high quality law enforcement organization to augment the efforts of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the country's only police force, which has struggled to address the problems.
Because of the combination of factors that limited the SAPS effectiveness there was an obvious need for a specialized investigative unit. This led to a partnership between South Africa and the United States, with a goal to create a South African version of the FBI. After a month of training at home, followed by almost three months of training in the United States, a very select group of South Africans known as the Scorpions recently graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
The origin of this specialized crime fighting effort dates back to 1996 when Vice President Al Gore and then South African Deputy President Mbeki signed a declaration regarding crime and human rights issues. The FBI Unit Chief for International Training, Judson Ray, traveled to South Africa on a site visit in August 1997. He later testified before the U.S. Congress on his findings, stating, "History has shown that when there is a major change in governmental structure (as in South Africa), crime becomes rampant. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is no different."
"The crime problem in the RSA is serious and complex," Ray reported. "There is evidence that organized crime syndicates have established a formidable presence. Police officers are murdered at a rate higher than those in any other country in the world."
The announcement of plans for a formalized investigative unit came in 1999, when President Mbeki announced that a special unit, the Directorate of Special Investigations, would be formed as "a symbol of our commitment" to deal with serious crimes. The unit, named the Scorpions, would be similar in purpose to that of the FBI.
The Scorpion name is reflective of the plans for the specialized unit. Like its insect namesake, the unit would be small but capable of taking on a large...