Controversial SA police chief suspended

Robert McBride, has been given 'time off' until his criminal charges were resolved

Duma Nkosi, the Ekurhuleni mayor, has effectively suspended Robert McBride, the Ekurhuleni metro police chief, from his duties as the metro police chief in the municipality.

The decision was taken at the executive committee of the Ekurhuleni council meeting in Gauteng, where the effect of the court case against McBride was discussed.

Nkosi announced that he had been given McBride "time off" until his criminal charges were resolved.

The embattled officer says he is happy that allegations levelled against him are finally going to be tested in court.

McBride says he has been tried by the media and is looking forward to finality on the matter. ”For the last seven months I have been trialed by media. Now we are going to have a process and I’m very glad it has started. The magistrate will make a decision and I will accept it like I welcome the decision by my bosses to excuse me from work. "

Meanwhile McBride will be replaced by Mkhabela Sibeko, the city deputy manager

Yesterday, McBride appeared in the Pretoria regional court on charges of drunken driving, fraud and defeating the ends of justice. He was granted bail of R1 000. The charges rose from an accident in which he was involved in Centurion last December.