The Shocking
Appointment of Robert McBride
31
January 2014, 06:53
Controversial Robert McBride Gets the
IPID. Of all the many bad ANC appointments, the cadre deployment of Robert
McBride to being the head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate
(IPID) is one of the worst. The SAPS continues to slide and with it so does
South Africa. At moments such as these i battle to see a future for our
country. In contrast, Zuma loyal, Marius Fransman, the ANC's Western Cape
chairman, hailed McBride as "a hero, patriot and committed civil servant
to the people of South Africa". Very disturbing start to South Africa's
weekend!
Wikipedia: "Most well known was his
leadership of the cell that bombed the "Why Not" Restaurant and
Magoo's Bar in Durban on 14 June 1986, an attack in which three white women
were killed and 69 people injured. He was captured and convicted for the
Durban bombing, and sentenced to death, but later reprieved while on death row.
In 1992, he was released after his actions were classified as politically
motivated. He was later granted amnesty at the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission (TRC) which provided for amnesty in return for complete disclosure
of acts of politically motivated violence, after the ANC changed their early
denials of involvement to a claim that they ordered the bombing.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South
Africa) report stated "It seems that not many, if any, of the victims
in this incident were members of the South African Police [the target].
Furthermore, the criticisms directed at the quality of reconnaissance of the
"Why Not Bar" might very well be valid. It may be, as was argued,
that he ought to have ensured at the relevant time that the primary targets of
the attack were present and therefore the concept of the proportionality of the
attack and its results must be considered." McBride and others were
granted amnesty for the attack, although the commission did find the bombing
to be a "gross violation of human rights".
Dianne Kohler Barnard says excision of
legal qualification from advert for position, speaks to a pre-determined
outcome...
With daily reports of police brutality,
the last appointment that should ever have been made is that of the
controversial Robert McBride as the Executive Director of the Independent
Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Today in Parliament the ANC majority in the Police
Portfolio Committee supported Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa's bizarre
nomination of McBride to head up the unit. It is yet another indication that
Zuma's ANC is not serious about the fight against corruption or crime. After
the disastrous appointments of Jackie Selebi and Bheki Cele, the DA believes
the Minister should have chosen differently.
Robert McBride is not the right person for the job.
Firstly, McBride is deeply embedded and loyal to
the ANC. The head of IPID must not be linked to any political party in order to
investigate police officers, including politically-appointed top brass without
fear or favour.
Secondly, the head of IPID needs to be free of
controversy, in order to build public trust in his office.
McBride has in the past been involved
in numerous scandals:
1. In 1998, McBride was arrested by the Mozambican
police on charges of gun running;
2. In 1999, while in the company of underworld
bosses at an escort agency, McBride was accused of assault; and
3. In 2011, McBride was convicted of drunken
driving and attempting to obstruct justice, and sentenced to five years
imprisonment. He was acquitted in April last year.
The DA will today write to Minister Mthethwa
requesting that he reconsider the appointment of Robert McBride as IPID head.
Should he refuse, the DA will write to President Jacob Zuma requesting that he
stop the appointment. Should neither the Minister or the President intervene
accordingly, the DA will consider pursuing legal action.
The DA is extremely disheartened by this
appointment. That the advertisement for the post had the necessity for a legal
qualification excised, speaks to a pre-determined outcome as it was seemingly
tailored to McBride's CV. Confidence in the IPID is diminishing at a time when
it is most crucial due to increases in police brutality. This appointment is
even more disturbing when taking into consideration that since the start of
January, approximately eight civilians have been allegedly killed by police.
IPID is responsible for investigating these incidences and holding police
members to account.
Token appointments based on party affiliation,
especially in the security services, is not in the best interest of the public.
Zuma's ANC has delivered a major blow to the fight against crime, corruption
and police brutality. We will not let this go unanswered without a fight.
Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of
Police, January 29 2014
