I was not consulted on Ipid Bill – Cele

THE NATIONAL Assembly is pushing for a threshold of two-thirds of MPs required to suspend the head of the police watchdog, taking powers away from the Police Minister.

But Police Minister Bheki Cele yesterday complained that he was not consulted by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate on the Bill.

Cele’s special adviser, Simo Chamane, told the portfolio committee on police, during public hearings on the Ipid Bill, they were not given the presentation of Ipid before it was tabled in Parliament.

“We can put it on record as the Ministry, let alone the fact that the Minister is the adviser of Ipid, the Minister has not had sight of the presentation. It is still the view of the Minister that he supports the Bill,” said Chamane.

Ipid’s Director for Litigation and Advisory Pule Maoka said when Cele took office he was not appraised about amendments to the Ipid Act. But he was briefed on other matters.

The Bill was brought to Parliament after the Constitutional Court ruled in 2016 that Cele’s predecessor Nathi Nhleko had no powers to unilaterally suspend Ipid head Robert McBride.

Parliament is in the race against time to fix the Bill by September when the Constitutional Court’s deadline expires.

Portfolio committee chairperson, Francois Beukman, said the Minister should have been consulted about amendments to the Bill.

He said Ipid should have given a copy of its presentation to Cele before it could table it in Parliament for discussion. Beukamn said it was standard practice that a minister would be consulted on the legislation affecting his department.

“Any legislation that has implications must be submitted to the minister.

“I want to ensure that all the role players have been briefed on the specific presentation,” said Beukman.