Tensions escalated in Parliament when former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride was accused of undermining the Ad Hoc Committee during questioning about a family-related court case.

Committee Chairperson Soviet Lekganyane had to intervene as MPs from various political parties expressed frustration with McBride’s perceived hostile attitude.

This happened when MPs accused McBride of undermining the Ad Hoc Committee after he did not take kindly when he was questioned about a court case involving a family member.

Lekganyane appealed to all not to speak with emotions.

“Emotions won’t help achieve what we want to achieve. Proceedings of today have to succeed by all means,” he said.

When he was questioned on the second day of his testimony, McBride accused MK Party Sibonelo Nomvalo of being personal when he asked if his daughter opened the case.

“You ask about my child. You should not be. You should mind your own business about my family,” said the former IPID boss.

“I am saying just watch it also,” McBride said.

Lekganyane said McBride should have used a police way to make his statement.

He also noted that he had been making cheeky statements when he was asked by ANC MP Xola Nqola earlier.

“You made a statement that ‘get out of my family business’. I don’t think that is a polite way. If we ask questions you have discomfort with, say it without bringing arsenal to the battlefield,” Lekganyane said.

However, EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys said they were being polite while being undermined by McBride since the morning.

“Mr McBride can’t come and threaten any MPs. I heard you say ‘you must watch it’. You are undermining us. We have been sitting here, and we are just being quiet,” said Mathys.

She said the proceedings were turned into a podcast and no longer an investigation.

“Mr McBride comes here, and he insults us as if we are not conducting an investigation, and only what he says we must take (and) everyone else is a liar.

“Just respect us Mr McBride, and stop what you are doing,” said Mathys.

ActionSA MP Dereleen James said McBride needed to pull himself together.

“He continues to be hostile to MPs. His attitude, body attitude, and everything are completely unacceptable. We have been tolerating it, and we are undermined by him enough already,” said James.

MK Party MP David Skosana accused McBride of appearing to be doing them a favour.

“Condescending is an understatement. Gesturing is still going on,” Skosana said.

“We are very concerned with your attitude. You are undermining this committee, the honourable members, and the people of South Africa at large. You can’t do that unless you are a law unto yourself,” said Skosana.

Lekganyane asked McBride if they could learn from him.

“We respect you so much, and your contribution to the liberation of this country has not gone unnoticed. We don’t doubt your loyalty to the republic,” he said.

“I am trying to find a polite way of talking to you so that we can help each other to have very smooth and successful proceedings.” 

In response, McBride said he had released a public statement indicating he admonished his daughter for indulging in temptation young people faced every day on the street.

“That was the matter, and that’s why the matter was withdrawn. I was not asked to plead,” he said.

During his testimony, McBride was grilled on the evidence he gave against KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and former acting national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.

He stated during the inquiry on Tuesday that Mkhwanazi and Phahlane were very close, with Mkhwanazi looking after Phahlane.

McBride raised concern about Mkhwanazi not attending the funeral of his close friend and an IPID investigator, Mandla Mahlangu, who was investigating Phahlane, despite being the first on the murder scene.

“I find that a bit strange,” he said.

On Wednesday, McBride maintained that Mkhwanazi was neither in the tent nor at the cemetery.

Asked what he tried to insinuate, McBride said it was a question of inconsistency.

“It is something any investigator worth their salt will question,” said the former IPID boss.

Pressed by Nomvalo about what he meant by the inconsistency of Mkhwanazi, McBride said it was the same way KwaZulu-Natal was burning in July 2021 when Mkhwanazi was not on the scene to deal with the insurrection.

“One would have expected him to be with people who used to be close with to attend their funeral,” he said.

“One wonders why he would be the first on the scene. Maybe there is clear answer, someone phoned him but no one has given that explanation,” McBride said.

When Nomvalo suggested that Mkhwanazi was contacted by Mahlangu’s brother, who was working in Mpumalanga, he said it was starting to make sense.

He later conceded that his assertion that Mkhwanazi’s conduct was inconsistent was an assumption.

“That is how you start an investigation,” he said.

Asked why he had not raised the inconsistency with the investigating team in Mahlangu’s murder, McBride said he was not in the criminal justice system.

“There were other people looking at the matter, including some IPID investigators trying to look at the issue,” he said.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

Source link