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Former IPID head Robert McBride.
Tempers flared at the Ad Hoc Committee investigating criminality in the criminal justice system after former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride refused to disclose his current employment, citing legal restrictions.
His utterances angered several Members of Parliament (MPs).
McBride had earlier submitted what he described as an outdated CV, saying he could not locate his most recent one.
This prompted MPs to accuse him of undermining the committee’s work.
Committee Chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, then pressed McBride to explain whether any law truly prevented him from disclosing his employment – leading to this exchange.
Chairperson Lekganyane: When the evidence leader asked you a question about your current employment, is there anything, any law that prevents you from disclosing where you are currently employed?
McBride: Yes, sir, there is.
Chairperson Lekganyane: Can you state it here in front of this committee so that the honorable member may know that you are prepared to give us the answer, but there is a law that prevents you from saying that? You can just say, ‘I’m employed, but in terms of the provisions of this law or this act of Parliament, which you as honorable members have passed, I’m not allowed unless I have permission to disclose’.
McBride: Yes, it’s Act 39 of 1994.
WATCH | Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee is questioning former IPID head Robert McBride about his employment status and the CV he submitted. pic.twitter.com/fAqu9gXgem
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 20, 2026
