Cape Town – Former Ekurhuleni metro chief Robert McBride is the most suitable candidate to head the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), the Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa said today, while assuring MPs that the directorate would remain independent whoever is chosen to head it.
“Our resolve to ensure that Ipid does what it is supposed to do will never be shaken by anything – and we went out to ensure that the kind of person who would be given that responsibility would have that understanding, would have that capacity,” said Mthethwa.
He was speaking during a meeting of the National Assembly’s portfolio committee on police which was convened to discuss McBride’s nomination by the minister to head the Ipid, which has been without a permanent head for more than a year.
“We are resolved that the leadership of Ipid – of which you as this committee has complained about in the past – will be strengthened,” he said of the directorate which investigates complaints against police officers lodged by the public.
McBride, a former Umkhonto we Sizwe operative, was last year acquitted of charges of drunk driving and obstruction of justice and also won an appeal case following the case.
He was also granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 2001 for his role in the bombing of Magoos bar in Durban in 1986.
Mthethwa said McBride was one of six short-listed applicants out of 49 that had applied to the post last year when it was advertised.
“During the interviews he was found to have performed above average and a competency test concurred with the view of the panel,” he said.
His qualifications are a BA degree in international politics, Btech policy in honours and a diploma in foreign relations.
Mthethwa said McBride had also demonstrated a clear understanding of Ipid’s mandate and had clear experience in policy making and is highly skilled in management.
Committee chairperson Annelize van Wyk reminded members that the nomination process for a new Ipid head would not allow public participation. – SAnews.gov.za
