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McBride says he warned Mchunu about Cedric Nkabinde’s appointment
When Parliament’s ad hoc committee on corruption and political interference convened this week, the atmosphere was already tense. Then former Independent Police Investigative Directorate head Robert McBride took the floor and delivered a blunt warning he says went unheeded.
McBride told MPs that he had personally cautioned Police Minister Senzo Mchunu against appointing Cedric Nkabinde as his chief of staff. According to McBride, this warning came before Nkabinde’s appointment and was rooted in serious doubts about his integrity.
“I said he is not to be trusted,” McBride told the committee, framing his concern as one based on experience rather than hindsight.
A pattern that raised red flags
McBride painted a picture of a senior official whose lifestyle did not align with public service norms. He described Nkabinde as having what he called an uncontrollable love for money, adding that his behaviour had long raised eyebrows within law enforcement circles.
One example shared with the committee was Nkabinde’s alleged habit of buying high-end designer clothing in bulk, including purchasing multiple suits at once. For McBride, this was not about fashion choices but about the uncomfortable gap between a public servant’s income and an unusually lavish lifestyle.
In a country where police corruption is a deeply emotive issue, such claims struck a nerve, especially given the wider context of the committee’s mandate.
What McBride would not say
While McBride linked his concerns to a broader corruption investigation involving SAPS, he was careful to stop short of specifics. He explained that the investigation began during his time at IPID but was no longer under his authority.
“I am not refusing to answer,” he told MPs, stressing that legal boundaries prevented him from discussing an ongoing probe.
This careful line walking underscored the seriousness of the matter while also highlighting how fragmented accountability can become once investigations move between institutions.
Questions about influence and secrecy
McBride also raised concerns about Nkabinde’s conduct behind the scenes. He told the committee about an unexplained weekend trip involving Nkabinde and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
When questioned about the trip, McBride said Nkabinde brushed it off as a simple boys’ weekend and declined to provide further details. For McBride, that response only deepened suspicion.
His testimony suggested that Nkabinde’s influence within SAPS may have extended beyond any formal job description, feeding into longstanding allegations of political interference operating quietly in the background.
A wider problem inside government
The hearing did not focus on Nkabinde alone. In a separate allegation, McBride accused former Police Minister Nathi Nhleko of employing an undocumented Zimbabwean national in his office using a fraudulent South African identity document. He claimed the individual had access to classified information despite lacking security clearance.
Stepping back, McBride argued that chiefs of staff across government had become a weak point in the system. In his view, these roles wield enormous power with too little scrutiny, creating fertile ground for abuse.
Why this testimony matters
Public reaction to McBride’s appearance has been swift, with social media users describing his testimony as explosive but unsurprising. For many South Africans, the claims echo a familiar frustration about corruption allegations surfacing only after damage is done.
As the committee continues its work, McBride is expected to return to testify further. Whether his warnings will translate into accountability remains to be seen. What is clear is that his words have once again forced uncomfortable questions about who holds power behind closed doors and who is trusted to serve the public interest.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Facebook/Nthabiseng Nhlapo
