Cedrick Nkabinde, chief of staff of suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu, on Thursday opened up about how he left his job at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) after falling out with former head of the entity, Robert McBride.

Nkabinde stated he left IPID in 2018 following a misunderstanding with McBride after he blew the whistle on issues at the entity to former minister Bheki Cele in April 2018.

“On 25 May, the same report ended up in the hands of Mr McBride, who got upset about being implicated along with Mr Paul O’Sullivan. He suspended me immediately because of that disclosure I made to the minister,” he said.

Nkabinde is giving evidence at the Parliamentary inquiry probing the allegations that were made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi months after Mchunu issued directives to SAPS National Commissioner Fannie Masemola on December 31, 2024.

The inquiry investigates the alleged unlawful disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), the moratorium in the filling of vacancies in the Crime Intelligence Unit, and the alleged corrupt relationship between senior leadership of SAPS and members of the public, as well as political interference in the work of the police service.

Nkabinde was moved from the police ministry by Acting Minister Firoz Cachalia to PSiRA because he was to testify on his role regarding the directives at the parliamentary inquiry and the Madlanga Commission.

He said on the day his disciplinary hearing was to commence in September 2018, McBride arrived at the venue and had a long chat with the IDPI legal representatives.

His lawyers were called in and informed that the former IPID head was proposing a settlement agreement and that the charges would be withdrawn and the hearing not proceed if he resigned.

“I left after entering into that settlement agreement, where all the charges Mr McBride was charging me with were withdrawn. It was negotiations, so I had no choice but to accept the settlement agreement and walk away,” said the former policeman.

Nkabinde told the inquiry that Cele had subsequently used his whistle-blower report as one of the reasons not to renew the contract of McBride when it expired.

The report was discussed in the Police Portfolio Committee and referred to the National Assembly to determine whether McBride’s contract should be renewed.

“My report was used in that process, hence Mr McBride hates me with passion as we speak and Mr Paul O’Sullivan.”

Nkabinde also said there were two criminal dockets that were opened using his report, and he is the key witness.

One was by a former Gauteng Hawks boss, General Mokotedi, for treason, and another implicating McBride, O’Sullivan, and former IPID official and now Independent Directorate Against Corruption chief investigator Matthew Sesoko.

He told the inquiry that McBride and O’Sullivan were subsequently arrested, but the investigating officer was informed that he needed to get a racketing certificate for the prosecution.

“Up until now, it is gathering dust within the National Prosecuting Authority. There is nothing happening, but they were arrested subsequently and were waiting for a racketeering certificate through my report.”

Earlier, Nkabinde testified that he was appointed as the chief of staff after Mchunu nominated him for the position in August 2024.

He said the SAPS human resources department handled the process to establish if the candidate was suitable, qualified, and met the requirements.

“Human resources recommends to the minister that the person he nominated is duly qualified, has passed all screening and relevant assessments.”

Nkabinde said he met the requirements for the job and has a diploma and a Bachelor of Technology in policing, as well as several certificates.

The former detective said that after he left IPID, he stayed at home for a few months looking for a job.

He said General Mkhwanazi assisted me in finding a job at a private company where he was employed.

“He is correct that after a few months not being employed, he is the one who assisted me in finding a job in a private sector company. My role was to head the forensic division in that private sector company.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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