McBride hearing stand-off continues

THE stand-off between the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, and Speaker Baleka Mbete on the institution of a disciplinary hearing against Robert McBride remains unresolved.

The portfolio committee on police said yesterday it was waiting for direction from the Speaker. The Minister of Police said they were waiting for Mbete to give the nod to the disciplinary hearing.

The stand-off began last year when Parliament dropped the hearing after the Constitutional Court ruled that only Parliament can institute disciplinary hearings against McBride.

The head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, McBride, was initially suspended by Nhleko over the illegal renditions of Zimbabweans.

But he successfully challenged his suspension, forcing Nhleko to allow him back into his job.

Nhleko later accused Mbete and the ANC study group of allowing the lapse of the deadline to charge McBride in Parliament.

Yesterday, chairman of the portfolio committee on police Francois Beukman said there was still no decision on the matter. He said the request was waiting for the Speaker.

“There needs to be a House resolution for the matter to be referred to the committee and there is no House resolution from the Speaker,” he said.

Nhleko’s spokesman, Sandile Ngidi, said the ball was in the court of the Speaker or Parliament.

He also said there needed to be a House resolution to address the matter.

“They didn’t say they won’t do it, they need a House resolution.

“One would not say they won’t do it.

“We need to respect the independence of the institution,” said Ngidi.

“Remember the trigger of this is the decision of the Constitutional Court.

“What the minister has been trying to do is to follow that injunction.”

He said they would wait for the Speaker to take a decision on the resolution.

Parliament did not respond to questions at the time of going to print.