Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) head Robert McBride. Picture: Gallo Images / Felix Dlangamandla Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) head Robert McBride told parliament’s ad hoc committee that Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya was wrongly implicated in a report that ultimately led to McBride’s suspension. He also shed light on the reasons behind the investigation into former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.
McBride on Tuesday gave his evidence before the committee probing claims of political interference and criminal infiltration at the Good Hope Chamber in Cape Town. Appointed in March 2014, McBride’s term as executive director of Ipid ended in February 2019 following the expiration of his contract. Prior to this, he had been suspended in March 2015 by then police minister Nathi Nhleko for allegedly interfering with a report that recommended criminal charges against Sibiya and former Hawks head Anwa Dramat.
The charges stemmed from the alleged unlawful illegal rendition of four Zimbabwean nationals. Nhleko’s suspension decision was later overturned by the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) in September 2016, allowing McBride to return to office. Addressing MPs, McBride told the committee that upon taking office, he requested briefings on high-profile Ipid cases, including those involving Dramat and Sibiya.
Read Full Article on The Citizen
[paywall]
He testified that he became concerned the investigation into the two senior South African Police Service (Saps) officers lacked independence. According to McBride, members of Saps’ Crime Intelligence division had conducted the probe, despite not having an investigative mandate, and implicated Dramat and Sibiya based on false statements.
[/paywall]
