Proposed new legislation to ensure the constitutionality of the enabling instrument for the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) was under scrutiny at a focus group co-convened today by the Institute for Security Studies and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. Twenty-six people representing 12 institutions participated in this state-civil society dialogue hosted at the Centre.
The South African Police Services Amendment Bill was necessitated by the Constitutional Court’s finding (popularly known as the Glenister Judgment) that the legislation that closed down the Scorpions and created the Hawks is unconstitutional. The Court found, specifically, that the Hawks have not been provided with an adequate degree of independence.
The dialogue was designed to assess the Bill against the Glenister Judgment and to contribute to well-informed public debate on the best way forward.
Parliament has invited public comment on the Bill. Written submissions are being received by the Portfolio Committee for Police until Tuesday 27 March.
The following institutions participated in the dialogue: Corruption Watch, the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC), the Hawks, the Helen Suzman Foundation, Institute for Accountability in South Africa, Institute for Security Studies, National Prosecuting Authority, Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Open Society Foundation, South African Human Rights Commission, University of Cape Town and the Special Investigating Unit.