Johannesburg - The vicious attack by ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe on the Scorpions was launched hours after deputy president Jacob Zuma had addressed senior ANC MPs and called for an end to what he termed "trial in the media" conducted by the elite policing unit.

A rift between Zuma and the Scorpions emerged after the then head of the unit, Bulelani Ngcuka, had publicly stated that there was a prima facie case of corruption against Zuma but that he would not be charged.

City Press can reveal that Zuma addressed ANC chairpersons of committees and whips at a venue in Sea Point, Cape Town.

According to ANC spokesperson in parliament, Mpho Lekgoro, Zuma "had strong words" for the Scorpions.

Lekgoro said Zuma wanted the Scorpions to stop the "trial in the media" tactic. He added that Zuma urged MPs to conduct themselves properly to ensure that they were not in conflict with the law and with ANC policies and codes of conduct.

On Thursday, Goniwe, whose name was among a list of 135 MPs investigated by the Scorpions in the Travelgate scandal, lashed out at the Scorpions.

Describing the Scorpions' investigation as a "circus", Goniwe said: "Our view is that this investigation was characterised by bad faith, was vindictive, spontaneous and completely unplanned and also conducted in a very insensitive manner ...

"It is a planned act of vengeance to undermine Parliament and to create the impression that MPs are cowboys and crooks."

Goniwe was also quoted as saying that the prosecuting authority had many officials from the old order who were against the new government. He said the Scorpions would have to be summoned to answer to Parliament.

"We have to come to the conclusion that we are going to have to call in the justice department and its agencies, and probe this matter to find out what was the intention of this probe and why it was so badly handled.

"I don't want to pre-empt anything, but it has to be probed by parliament. We need to call them to parliament and find out what this circus is about, and it must be stopped."

With acknowledgement to the City Press.