Nathi Mthethwa nominates Robert McBride as IPID Head

The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, has nominated Robert McBride as the new Executive Director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

The Minister has requested that the Portfolio Committee of Police consider McBride's nomination in a letter published in Parliament's Announcements, Tablings and Committees (ATC) this morning. According to the IPID Act, the nomination must be considered within 30 parliamentary days.

McBride has in the past been involved in numerous scandals and does not appear to be suitable for the position: 

In 1998, McBride was arrested by the Mozambican police on charges of gun running;

In 1999, while in the company of underworld bosses at an escort agency, McBride was accused of assault; and

In 2011, McBride was convicted of drunken driving and attempting to obstruct justice, and sentenced to five years imprisonment. He was acquitted in April this year.

IPID - the institution responsible for conducting oversight on SAPS and Metro Police officers - should not be led by such a controversial figure.

Amongst other duties, the Executive Director of IPID is required to manage finances; appoint provincial heads and staff; and provide guidelines regarding the investigation and management of cases by officials. The Executive Director must be suitably qualified for the position, not have previous convictions, and be a person of integrity.

The DA will vehemently oppose this appointment in Parliament. 

IPID is responsible for investigating police officials in positions of authority and deals with sensitive information on a daily basis, thus the Executive Director must be a person free of scandal.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, November 12 2013

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