Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla said yesterday discussions on where to place the Directorate of Special Operations were still continuing, and no policy decision had been taken.

She was moving to allay fears amid speculation that the unit, commonly known as the Scorpions, could be moved from the National Prosecuting Authority to the South African Police Service.

"There's always been a concern that there should be synergies for collaboration between all our law-enforcement agencies," Mabandla said in Pretoria yesterday after introducing new national director of public prosecutions, Vusi Pikoli, to staff.

She said an instruction from the recent cabinet lekgotla, or strategic planning meeting, last month was that the department should move with speed to realign and establish greater co- operation among law enforcement agencies. The issue was not about whether the National Prosecuting Authority unit was placed with the police, but about alignment with other enforcement agencies, she said.

Deputy Justice Minister Johnny de Lange said there were always going to be turf wars between different law-enforcement agencies in democratic countries anywhere in the world.

De Lange said there was a competition for resources, for cases and for media attention.

"These things are not unique to SA. This is a healthy competition."

Addressing staff on his first day on the job, Pikoli said it was important that the authority forged partnerships with other enforcement agencies.

"We will have to work closely with all other law-enforcement agencies. If we spread our workload our work will become lighter."

The former director-general of the justice department said he would like to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, Bulelani Ngcuka, and consolidate on gains and successes that the authority had achieved. Pikoli said the authority's work should be guided by the constitution and the law.

He also said he needed to analyse shortcomings facing the authority, and he had lined up meetings with unit heads to look at the problems. As head of the National Prosecuting Authority, of which the Scorpions are a part, Pikoli said he would not be making changes immediately.

"Things will remain as they are until there is a policy change."

With acknowledgements to Ernest Mabuza and the Business Day.