READ: Bheki Cele’s response to McBride’s ultimatum

Earlier today, it was reported that Police Minister Bheki Cele has responded to Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride, who demanded he withdraw the non-renewal of his contract, which ends next month.

However, neither the ministry or the directorate would confirm the contents of said response which has since been published on social media.

Reneilwe Serero, spokesperson for Cele, said: “Minister Cele did respond. Unfortunately [we can’t share the contents]. The letter is addressed to the executive director of IPID.”

McBride initially gave the police minister a deadline by which to clarify his statement about the non-renewal of his contract as McBride claimed it was not clear what he expected the parliamentary committee to do. He also demanded the minister provide written reasons for his decision by the same deadline.

McBride said in a letter dated 24 January 2019: “In the circumstances, I request that you, by 12pm tomorrow, make it clear that your decision not to renew my term in office has been withdrawn; that you will request the PCP to take a decision whether or not to renew my term in office.”

McBride further stated he would approach the high court for a solution should he not receive a response from Cele by the aforementioned deadline.

This came after Cele addressed a letter to McBride on January 16 in which he said he had “decided not to renew or extend your employment contract as executive director of IPID”, adding he must vacate the office on February 28.

In response to McBride’s January 24 letter, the minister of police stated: “It must, however, be placed on record that I do not intend to remove you from office. Your term of office expires on the 28th of February 2019 and the intention of my letter was to make that visible to yourself.”

“I have been advised that based on governing labour law principles, you cannot claim any right or legitimate expectation to the renewal of your contract,” added Cele.

Read both letters below:

BREAKING: Minister Bheki Cele has notified Robert McBride that he will not renew his term of office as head of IPID.
McBride contract expires on 28 February. He maintains Cele has failed to give him reasons for non-renewal and needs to take this issue to Parliament.
—> pic.twitter.com/uIlrRF7hVv

— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) January 25, 2019

ALSO READ: Furious McBride warns Bheki Cele he’s axing him ‘unlawfully’

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