Cape Town - Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko could face questions from MPs in the next two weeks.
This is after the portfolio committee on police agreed on Thursday that he should come before it on the suspension of the head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), Robert McBride.
Chairman of the portfolio committee Francois Beukman said now that the matter of Hawks chief Anwa Dramat was out of the way, the next thing was to get the minister to Parliament to answer queries on McBride’s suspension.
McBride was suspended a month ago for providing two conflicting reports on the illegal rendition of Zimbabweans, which had put Dramat in the firing line.
Beukman said McBride had earlier requested an audience with the portfolio committee on his suspension, but this was refused because Dramat’s matter was unresolved.
This week, national police chief General Riah Phiyega confirmed to the portfolio committee that Dramat had resigned at the end of last month.
DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said now that Dramat’s matter had been dealt with, she had expected McBride to be back on the job and present in Parliament during Ipid’s briefing to the committee on Thursday. It was briefing the portfolio committee on its annual performance plans.
Ipid acting head Israel Kgamanyane confirmed to MPs he had been appointed to the position by Nhleko after McBride’s suspension. This was based on his qualifications and experience.
Kgamanyane has been with Ipid since 1997 and has risen through the ranks, starting as an investigator. He was appointed head of Ipid in the Free State 13 years ago.
He is acting head of Ipid in McBride’s absence, and was one of the candidates shortlisted early last year when McBride was appointed to the job.
Kgamanyane refused to be drawn on his boss’s suspension, saying this was in Nhleko’s purview.
Beukman said they were concerned about leadership instability at Ipid and wanted assurance from Kgamanyane that the budget would be handled efficiently.
When Kohler Barnard asked Kgamanyane about the absence of McBride, as the Dramat case had been closed, Beukman said the minister would be better placed to answer.
Kgamanyane said that when he was appointed, the minister had instructed him to ensure there was stability in the unit.
“On the measures to ensure the institution performs according to the budget, we have our annual performance plans and strategic plans, we have to put systems in place to perform according to the budget,” he said.
They had set up three committees that would monitor the use of funds.
Kgamanyane’s response followed MPs’ concerns about Ipid under-spending in certain areas.
Political Bureau