McBride abuse case delayed

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) boss Robert McBride made a quick dash from the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday, avoiding scores of journalists and cameras stationed outside.

McBride was making his second appearance on charges of contravening provisions of the Children’s Act after his 15-year-old daughter claimed he beat and throttled her.

He faces charges of child abuse and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was granted R10 000 bail in August.

State prosecutor Tefo Makgoatsane requested another postponement for further investigations yesterday, but McBride’s defence said the state had had more than enough time to conclude the matter.

“His first appearance was on August 20 and he is appearing again on October 2. That is over a month.

“We don’t know why we need to have more time for further investigations,” his lawyer, Jaco Hamman said. Hamman made an application requesting the postponement be the last.

McBride’s bail conditions include no contact with any of his children or his daughter’s mother, Natalie Emmanuel.

Magistrate Ignatius du Preez warned McBride that if he contacted any of the witnesses, bail would be cancelled.

“That included sending someone to talk, discuss or request the witnesses to change or withdraw charges.” The matter was postponed to October 24.

His daughter told The Citizen in August that McBride punched her in a moving car. “We were stationary while he was strangling me,” she had added.

But McBride denied this, saying he was “admonishing” one of his daughters, whom he claimed he had custody of “as I realised she is being neglected”.