The Portfolio Committee on Police confirmed the receipt of Robert McBride’s referral letter, which nominates him as a candidate to occupy the position of the executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
Police minister Nathi Mthethwa has written to Parliament requesting the portfolio committee on police to “confirm or reject the nomination of Robert McBride as head of the IPID.
The meeting to proffer McBride to the committee will take place on January 28, next year.
The meeting will accord minister Mthethwa an opportunity to table McBride’s CV after which the committee will deliberate on McBride’s candidacy.
After the committee’s deliberations, a recommendation will be made to the National Assembly on the matter.
However, not everyone feels McBride is the right person for the job.
There’s been widespread condemnation and opposition to the police minister’s nomination of McBride as head of IPID.
The Democratic Alliance has released a statement in which it has condemned the appointment.
According to the DA, McBride is not suitable for the position, because he has in the past been involved in numerous scandals.
The DA adds that the party has been pushing the ANC in the metro for the past five years to recoup the money that the council had sponsored McBride, to fight his drunken driving case in court.
“Despite petitions and pressure brought to bear by the DA on the ANC, we have been steadfastly ignored by the ruling party, which no doubt is wishing the problem away,” says the DA’s leader in Ekurhuleni, Shelley Loe.
“Not least amongst the DA’s issue that public money was used to defend one individual is the fact that the ANC transgressed an unambiguous council regulation that no more than R10 000 of public money may be used to assist any official with legal costs.
“If McBride’s nomination today, as head of the IPID, serves only to focus attention on him and the millions he owes Ekurhuleni’s residents, the DA in the metro would be most grateful,” say Loe.
The DA says it will vehemently oppose McBride’s appointment in Parliament.
McBride was accused of assault at an escort agency and was arrested for gunrunning in Mozambique. He spent seven months in a Maputo prison and was later cleared of all charges.
In 2006, he was arrested after he crashed his official car on the R511, following a Christmas party.
McBride was also convicted of drunk driving.
However, the judgment was later overturned and he was acquitted of the charge in April.
McBride was also granted amnesty during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for his role in the Magoo’s Bar bombing in Durban in 1986.
