What happens to terrorists who kill in South Africa...

[Mojoman]

Absolutely crazy stuff...

 

 

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has nominated controversial former Ekurhuleni Metro Police chief Robert McBride as executive director of police watchdog body, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

The IPID, formerly known as the Independent Complaints Directorate, is tasked with dealing with independently investigating criminal offences allegedly committed by police.

McBride, who left the Ekurhuleni Metro Police after he was charged with drunken driving, is an unlikely choice after his name was dragged through the mud during a highly publicised court case over the incident.

He was charged with drunken driving after he rolled his car following a Christmas party in Tshwane in 2006. He was initially found guilty and sentenced to a five-year prison term in 2011, but both the verdict and sentence were overturned on appeal earlier this year.

McBride was on death row for murder in the early 1990s for his role in the bombing of the Magoos bar on Durban's beachfront. He was released along with Barend "Wit Wolf"​ Strydom, by then president FW de Klerk, as a sign of good faith ahead of the Codesa negotiations, according to Business Day's report on Tuesday.

The previous executive director of the IPID was former ANC MP Francois Beukman – whose resignation was announced to the media on the afternoon of the Marikana massacre. He was thought to have been pushed out of the position as he did not see eye to eye with Mthethwa. Beukman was temporarily replaced by the IPID's then recently appointed chief director of legal services, Koekie Mbeki. If the nomination for McBride succeeds, he will replace Mbeki and become the permanent head of the organisation.

Head of the IPID

The news was broken after parliamentary papers on Tuesday showed that a letter had been received from Mthethwa "requesting the relevant parliamentary committee to confirm or reject the nomination of Mr Robert John McBride as executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in terms of section 6 (2) of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act".

If Mthethwa's request is approved by Parliament's police committee, McBride will be the next head of the IPID.

Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on police Dianne Kohler Barnard said her party would oppose McBride's appointment, and said the police watchdog "should not be led by such a controversial figure". The Mail & Guardian could not reach police ministry spokesperson Zweli Mnisi immediately for comment, nor IPID spokesperson Moses Dlamini.

In May this year, McBride told newspapers he was "heavily indebted" following his court case. "I owe lots of people money," McBride said at the time. "I had to sell lots of my things. Fortunately some of my family, friends and comrades assisted me."

McBride spent R1.7-million on legal fees.

Beukman's departure

Beukman was ousted from the role after he was investigated for alleged irregularities in the appointment of the director for executive support in his office, the M&G reported in September 2012.

It is understood that Beukman had not always seen eye to eye with Mthethwa and this might have forced him to resign.

In announcing his departure, the directorate claimed that Beukman had tendered his resignation "to pursue other interests". Its spokesperson, Moses Dlamini, said the body had no further comment to make on Beukman's departure.

There has been some speculation that he could have been encouraged to resign because he would not allow a cover-up.

Beukman took up the IPID job in August 2009 and his contract was due to end in August 2014.

The M&G has also learnt that Beukman had done some restructuring at the organisation that had upset some staff. Although nobody doubted his capabilities and his desire for independence to allow the directorate to carry out its tasks, there had allegedly been some complaints from staff against him.

Reaction from South Africans

South Africans on Twitter responded strongly to the news as it broke on Tuesday, taking issue with the minister's choice of director for the independent body.

 

http://mg.co.za/article/2013-11-12-shock-as-mthethwa-nominates-mcbride-as-ipid-head

[Vetseun]

It just doesn't stop hey. Bloody hell

[Chro Mo]

I burst out laughing when I heard this. I thought it was a joke.

 

First I thought, "How can this happen at all?"

But then I thought, "How can this happen anywhere but here?"

[gummibear]

Someone should forward his GPS co-ords to the CIA

[Eldron]

C'mon - we have a 20 year history of terrorists that become president.

 

Don't forget: One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter and the victor writes the history books.

[Greybeard]

There is a big difference between being a freedom fighter for a just cause, which overturning apartheid was, or just being a common criminal. Our government have now moved on from being former freedom fighters to a bunch of till raiding common criminals.

[DJR]

I think he should be reminded that he is mentioned in the same sentence as Barend "Die Wit Wolf" Strydom! That will hopefully make him understand that some South Africans consider them both murderers of innocent civilians.

[BarHugger]

There are however two sections that will be combined. The IPID and Super Thug Unit (STU). Collectively they will be known as.........you have guessed it (spelling is optional).

 

 

 

 

STUIPID

[Big H*]

He is bad breeding, has no character and will fault again. Leave he be, he is weak.

[Mtblife]

Past his "galant " efforts of placing a bomes in a bar and church, he's committed crimes of fraud, driving drunk, extorshion and bribery. He got pull in the gov to have his case set aside. We all know this.

 

So negating as one blogger noted his heroics. He's just another criminal running down a country that was great, but is now a place for super rich government and poor people getting poorer at the hands of who they vote for.

 

Some call my comments - loser or other , I just call it Africa. We had no Gandhi in the anc , Gandhi was a complet pacifist.

 

To have this criminal fool involved in the police no mater who you support is just simply silly. But silly rules.

 

I am like others very dispondent due to the decay in SA. No future for any educate persons..

 

[Brogue]

Careful okes and okettes, we'll all be accused of discrimination and racism shortly. #justsaying

[HairyLegs]

Enter stage left - Krecjir

[mikethebike234]

hells bells why don't they just make old Radovan minister of police....

[mikethebike234]

Enter stage left - Krecjir

so Im not the only one thinking that....

[Tyreman]

Enter stage left - Krecjir

hes not a terrorist he's just a common thug connected to the highest echelons . I wonder if this time innocent bystander got hurt considering that the two dead were his people. Bedfordview should be renamed Mafiaville.

[Forthefun]

Nothing racist. I just seen the same melt down in other country's on this continent and it SA has the symptoms of the slow illness. SA has many remarkable points and truly great wonderful people of all races. My point is at government. Do derail that or throw the race card in to negate facts often hard to accept.

 

I love SA, but without the rule of law, civilian society can not exist. Prove me wrong and I be happier than you.