Constitutional Court judgment welcomed

6 September 2016  

The Freedom Front Plus welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court that the minister of police does not have the power to suspend the head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Robert McBride. With this judgment, the independence of IPID is strengthened and confirmed. It would lead to the public having more faith that their complaints against members of the Police will not be undermined through the interference of the Minister.

“It does however not mean that McBride is innocent, and it would probably mean that the portfolio committee in parliament will hold a disciplinary hearing of McBride upon the instructions of the National Assembly.

 “IPID is public’s watchdog over the police and investigates complaints of the public against the police. The public should, therefore, have faith in the head of IPID. McBride is extremely controversial and investigations into his conduct should be finalised as the head of IPID should be trusted by the public,” Dr. Pieter Groenewald, chief spokesperson on police for the FF Plus, says.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus chief spokesperson: Police, 6 September 2016