Directorate of Special Operations

Adv Johnson conceded that undisclosed external actors or internal staff may have operated with motives to cast narratives or exert influence on IDAC's investigations beyond his knowledge.

“A lot of the times, and history had shown that, you find that staff get overzealous in wanting to present their case, but more often than not, you find that they engage with persons outside the purview of the work we are supposed to do, and you are not privy to that engagement. And so the mind you expect them to bring to bear on the mandate and on the cases is what you are engaging them on. It has been a past experience. In the way things happened this past week, it seems that there are other actors that might have been engaged with for us to be where we are.”

There were previous investigations before IDAC into the abuse of secret service funds emerging from prosecutions of Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi and later investigations of former Divisional Commissioner Richard Mdluli.

“The matters arose way back in 2006/2007 when Advocate Gerrie Nel prosecuted the corruption matter of the late Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi...Fast forward a few years later, there were investigations then launched against the previous Divisional Commissioner, one Mr Richard Mdluli...”

Investigations into secret/ slush fund abuse began around 2006 and continued prior to advent of IDAC in 2019, handled by agencies including the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions).

“These matters arose way back in 2006/2007 when Advocate Gerrie Nel prosecuted ... There were not such investigations at the time in IDAC, but there had been investigations previously in other law enforcement agencies like the Directorate of Special Operations, DSO or colloquially the Scorpions.”

Witness I began employment in law enforcement in 2002 with the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) known as the Scorpions, and remained until the DSO was disbanded in 2009.

“I began my employment in law enforcement with the Directorate of Special Operations, DSO, commonly known as Scorpions in 2002, and remained there as an Investigator until 2009 when DSO was disbanded”

Colonel Gavin Jacob joined the South African Police in January 2001 and has served in various units including the Forensic Science Laboratory, Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions), Narcotics section, and the South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (SANEB).

“I joined the South African Police in January 2001 . I was appointed at the rank of Sergeant as a Forensic Analyst at the Ballistic Unit of the Forensic Science Laboratory . In April 2002 , I joined the Directorate of Special Operations , commonly known as the Scorpions . I was based in Silverton as a Special Investigator at the Crime Information Collection Unit . In November 2004 , I was transferred to the DSO Durban where I was placed within the Narcotics section .”

In July 2009, the Directorate of Special Operations was dissolved and merged with SAPS, after which Colonel Jacob joined the DPCI Durban Organized Crime Unit and later the Serious Organized Crime Investigation Unit.

“In July 2009 , the DSO was dissolved and we were merged with the SAPS . I joined the DPCI Durban Organized Crime Unit , which later became known as the Serious Organized Crime Investigation Unit .”