SAPS in
crosshairs on graft, says McBride
10 November 2016, 12:15pm
Craig
Dodds
Ipid boss Robert McBride File picture: Phill
Magakoe
Parliament - Restored head of the Independent Police
Investigative Directorate (Ipid) Robert McBride says systemic corruption in the
SAPS will be his top priority now that he’s back in the saddle.
Last week, the National Prosecuting Authority dropped the
charges against McBride relating to his alleged altering of an Ipid report on
the rendition of several Zimbabweans - supposedly in order to protect former
Hawks head Anwa Dramat and his Gauteng counterpart, Shadrack Sibiya.
On Wednesday, McBride made his first appearance before
Parliament’s police oversight committee since his suspension more than a year
ago by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, after the Constitutional Court set aside
his suspension and Parliament declined the minister’s request to subject
McBride to a misconduct inquiry.
McBride said after the meeting he had always been adamant there
was no case for him to answer to and that the dropping of the charges
vindicated this view.
“The issue is, did our democracy work? Where there have been
failures in one arm of governance, another arm will assist,” McBride said.
“In our case, it was the courts, so the democracy works, and
that’s why the different elements of democracy are in place, to ensure the
checks and balances are kept and there isn’t abuse of power.”
His most pressing concern now was Ipid’s ability to take on
complex systemic corruption problems.
“Because if we are able to deal with systemic corruption within
the SAPS, it sends a message, as most systemic corruption is carried out by
senior members, and if we’re able to effectively deal with that and eventually
get prosecutions, it will send a message to the lower ranks.
“And you’ll have a trickle- down effect of an improvement in
ethics and integrity,” McBride pointed out.
But he wouldn’t be drawn on specific investigations, saying only
that there was “no glass ceiling or otherwise” on how far up his investigations
could go.
“I must go without fear, favour or prejudice to wherever the
investigation takes me,” McBride said.
Political Bureau
