McBride on R10 000 bail

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) head Robert McBride, pictured, appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge that he assaulted his 15-year-old daughter.

McBride was released on R10 000 with strict court conditions that he does not contact any of the witnesses.

Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini said McBride would like the trial to start as soon as possible so he can clear his name.

“As this matter is already in court, McBride had been advised not to comment further,” Dlamini said in a statement.

McBride denied claims he assaulted his daughter, saying he “admonished” her.

But his daughter maintains he assaulted her. “He did hit me. He was punching me while the car was moving and we were stationary while he was strangling me,” the teen said.

“His reason for ‘admonishing’ me was that he needed to wake up early. The discussion we were having wasn’t anything to do with my marks and he uses the word ‘admonishing’, but I am saying he hit me. That’s the truth,” she said.

In a statement on Saturday, McBride said: “I issue this statement with a heavy heart as I have refrained from commenting out of concern for my minor child. However, I have decided to comment as I have noticed that other people, including those investigated by Ipid, have inveigled themselves into my family matters and have no concern for the well-being of my children – which is why the story has seemed newsworthy, even though the press rules forbid the identification of children.”