Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) head Robert McBride testifies before Parliament’s ad hoc committee at the Good Hope Chambers in Cape Town on 20 January 2026. Picture: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) head Robert McBride’s appearance before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Tuesday got off to a turbulent start, with MPs accusing him of showing disrespect during proceedings. McBride appeared before the committee at the Good Hope Chamber in Cape Town on Tuesday as part of its inquiry into allegations of criminal infiltration and political interference within South Africa’s justice system.
McBride was appointed executive director of Ipid in March 2014. His leadership, however, became controversial a year later. In March 2015, then police minister Nathi Nhleko suspended McBride over allegations that he had interfered with an internal report recommending criminal charges against former Hawks head Anwa Dramat and Gauteng Hawks boss Shadrack Sibiya.
The matter related to the alleged unlawful extradition of four Zimbabwean nationals. Nhleko’s decision was ultimately overturned by the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) inSeptember 2016, reinstating McBride. McBride remained in office until his contract came to an end in February 2019.
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He has since been accused of improper conduct and of allegedly working with private investigator Paul O’Sullivan to target senior police officials, including former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane. Before joining Ipid, McBride served as chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) between 2003 and 2008. He later transitioned into intelligence services, taking up a position as head of the foreign branch of the State Security Agency (SSA) in July 2020.
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