By Johnathan Paoli
Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride came under sustained pressure before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, with MPs accusing him of misleading the inquiry about the true nature of his relationship with private investigator Paul O’Sullivan and O’Sullivan’s associate, Sarah-Jane Trent.
The line of questioning cut to the heart of whether McBride had been candid with Parliament about the extent of his contact with private individuals, and whether that relationship influenced sensitive investigations.
MPs put it to McBride that evidence before the committee suggested he was in constant communication with Trent and that he may have shared information with people outside the state.
He rejected those allegations and dismissed claims that O’Sullivan posed a national security threat, saying suggestions that O’Sullivan was an MI6 agent were baseless.
McBride denied sharing classified information, disputed the authenticity of text messages shown to him, rejected allegations of a romantic relationship with Trent, and denied ever asking her to access bank accounts.
He accused MPs of ambushing him with material he had never seen.
Tensions rose further during an exchange with ActionSA MP Dereleen James over whether IPID relied on private individuals for forensic assistance.
James challenged McBride over whether he improperly discussed citizens’ credit details with private individuals instead of relying on the DPCI, accusing him of contradicting his earlier claims about SAPS’ forensic capacity.
McBride denied lying, said he could not recall the specific exchange, and maintained that IPID ultimately worked through the DPCI rather than private individuals.
Earlier in the day, MKP MP Vusi Shongwe thanked McBride for his role in the liberation struggle and recalled that EFF leader Julius Malema had once publicly suggested that McBride replace Khehla Sitole as national police commissioner.
McBride said he was unaware of the tweet and added that he had never formally sought the post, remarking that, in hindsight, perhaps he should have, because then the committee would not be sitting where it was.
Shongwe questioned McBride about a braai hosted by O’Sullivan on 6 December 2016, after earlier testimony by Nkabinde that a female journalist attended and that plans were made there to remove then deputy national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.
McBride said no journalist was present, only a woman who had written a book about O’Sullivan, adding dryly that the meat wasn’t good anyway.
On credibility, McBride said Shadrack Sibiya was credible, but described KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as “on the whole not credible”, alleging he had interfered in IPID investigations.
He said Phahlane was also not credible and testified that Mkhwanazi had attempted to undermine IPID’s investigation into Phahlane by secretly meeting the lead investigator and allegedly offering a promotion if something could be found against McBride.
He said this amounted to defeating the ends of justice and expressed uncertainty as to why the case was never prosecuted, suggesting it may be linked to the death of IPID investigator Mandla Mahlangu, noting that “no one has been convicted for his murder”.
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach questioned McBride on why the prosecution of O’Sullivan and Trent did not proceed.
McBride said he did not know what caused the delay and believed the prosecution acted prematurely.
He said then-NDPP Shaun Abrahams was insistent on pursuing the matter, adding that Abrahams was operating under the “madness of the time” and was seen as malleable and eager to please, which explained his promotion.
McBride also testified about alleged procurement irregularities involving Mkhwanazi and bulletproof vests, saying prices were inflated and that one facilitator had two companies tendering.
He said officials were taken to Paris and given luxury bags as inducements, remarking that one of the bags was now in IDAC custody.
On broader issues, McBride said Crime Intelligence was in disarray, called for an independent vetting body outside State Security, alleged that IPID had been infiltrated, and said all IPID emails until six months ago had been wiped.
He said Parliament ignored his warnings about ministerial interference, particularly involving former minister Nhleko, and described Mkhwanazi’s July media briefing as a “military-style” show of force intended to intimidate “the constitutional order”.
As proceedings drew to a close, Lekganyane thanked McBride for his appearance and announced that the committee would reconvene on Thursday at 11:00 to hear evidence from suspended EMPD deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi.
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