ActionSA Unveils Scorpions 2.0 Bills to Crush Cartels and Corruption
Press Statement by Dereleen James MP
ActionSA Member of Parliament
ActionSA today unveiled two Bills to establish Scorpions 2.0, a strengthened and independent anti-corruption institution capable of investigating and prosecuting serious corruption, dismantling organised criminal cartels and holding politically connected criminals accountable.
The announcement comes amid disturbing revelations before the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi, which have exposed the infiltration of law enforcement by organised criminal networks and serious crises in corruption fighting.
ActionSA’s proposed reforms aim to address these failures by closing the Hawks and transferring their mandate and resources to a reformed and strengthened Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
The two Bills propose five key reforms:
Terminate the Hawks and transfer their functions and resources to a strengthened IDAC.
Expand IDAC’s powers to investigate and prosecute serious corruption, organised crime, serious commercial and financial crime, and offences involving the abuse of public power.
Protect IDAC’s independence through a single, non-renewable 10-year term for its head and stringent safeguards against arbitrary removal.
Establish independent oversight and accountability through a committee chaired by a retired judge, alongside IPID investigations into alleged serious misconduct by IDAC investigators.
Protect IDAC’s funding by separately identifying its budget and preventing in-year reductions without an Act of Parliament.
ActionSA believes South Africa cannot continue relying on institutions that lack the independence, powers and resources to confront powerful criminal networks and the political figures who enable them.
No politician should be above investigation. No criminal network should be protected by political connections. And no institution entrusted with fighting corruption should be vulnerable to interference from those it may be required to investigate.
ActionSA’s Scorpions 2.0 proposals form part of its broader Anti-Corruption Reform Package and aim to restore the capacity to confront corruption at the highest levels of government and organised crime.
ActionSA Unveils Scorpions 2.0 Bills to Crush Cartels and Corruption
ActionSA today unveiled two Bills to establish Scorpions 2.0, a strengthened and independent anti-corruption institution capable of investigating and prosecuting serious corruption, dismantling organised criminal cartels and holding politically connected criminals accountable.
The announcement comes amid disturbing revelations before the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi, which have exposed the infiltration of law enforcement by organised criminal networks and serious crises in corruption fighting.
ActionSA’s proposed reforms aim to address these failures by closing the Hawks and transferring their mandate and resources to a reformed and strengthened Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
The two Bills propose five key reforms:
ActionSA believes South Africa cannot continue relying on institutions that lack the independence, powers and resources to confront powerful criminal networks and the political figures who enable them.
No politician should be above investigation. No criminal network should be protected by political connections. And no institution entrusted with fighting corruption should be vulnerable to interference from those it may be required to investigate.
ActionSA’s Scorpions 2.0 proposals form part of its broader Anti-Corruption Reform Package and aim to restore the capacity to confront corruption at the highest levels of government and organised crime.
Public Participation
Both Bills are available at www.actionsa.org.za/bills/.
Members of the public are encouraged to support these reforms by submitting written comments before 22 November 2026.
Your support can help build the independent institutions South Africa needs to defeat corruption and organised crime.