Posted by Mike Hampton a.k.a. Wicked Mike on Jan 31, 2014
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”.
The DA’s 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
NathiMthethwa’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
BhekiCele, 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:
- 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 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
