Politics 2.0

ANIMAL FARM
The New Hawks Unit replaces the Scorpions

So with grand announcement, the Scorpions have returned in a new shape and form. On Tuesday 6 July, the Hawks, the police's newly launched crime-fighting unit and successor to the disbanded Scorpions, kicked off with a symbolic ceremony.

It is a move that can be summed up in one word - Bravo! Jacob Zuma, the former prey of the Scorpions managed to out-manoeuvre Mbeki's agents in all the venomous allegations against him. He emerged as the leader of the ANC, and now leader of the country without charges.

Now with his seat in power, Zuma has the strength and audacity to re-invent the beast that almost killed him by domesticating it and renaming it as a friend instead of foe. This was done all under the auspices of the threat or need for a national-crime fighting innitiative.

It is a brilliant play by Zuma - reminiscent of the time when Lenin's Checka was replaced by a more Stalin friendly KGB. Now Zuma has his own private security or perhaps even secret security. It seems the predators are now the lap-dogs of the prey.