The South African Policing Union would like to voice its deepest concern about the senseless fight between Robert McBride of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and the Hawks head, Berning Ntlemeza, as well as Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko.
We are by no means implying that McBride is a saint or beyond reproach. The union is only concerned about the apparent vendetta against McBride.
It’s clear that there’s a political motive in this brutal war against him and the union calls upon Nhleko and Ntlemeza to back off.
The more they want to dig out dirt against McBride, the clearer it becomes that they don’t want him to head the police directorate.
This war severely affects the work of the men and women in blue.
The Hawks are known for dealing with serious crimes, so I just wonder what it is that McBride has done?
The union fully supports McBride, as we did when Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was bullied by the very same Hawks.
If the Hawks have a case against McBride, they should drag him to court. The political manipulation of the Hawks will seriously dent its credibility.
They remind us of how the Scorpions were used for selfish political ends. We call on McBride not to be shaken or intimidated. He must just focus on his mandate.
Kgaogelo Magagula, Deputy general-secretary Sapu
