March 28, 2008, 16:30
Ekurhuleni mayoral spokesperson Prince Hamnca says Metro police chief Robert McBride has signed official documents but is not working.
Hamnca says: “McBride was never suspended but was put on special leave, that means that if we want to consult with him we can -- because he is the chief of police," Hamnca said, adding that according to the South African Police Act of 1995, McBride was obliged to deal with legal documents and issues.
McBride has been placed on leave pending his trial in the Pretoria Regional Court in April, for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, defeating the ends of justice and fraud relating to a car accident in December 2006.
Hamnca said that on February 28 of this year, McBride signed a document authorising a road block in Boksburg for the next day. Hamnca said that only McBride could deal with legal issues while the day-to-day operations and management issues were dealt with by acting police chief Mkhabela Sibeko.
Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance and a councillor for the Independent Ratepayers Association of SA (Irasa) have questioned how much had been spent on McBride's legal fees to date. The DA said that on Thursday Ekurhuleni mayor Duma Nkosi stated that an amount of R578 149 had been spent.
However, Irasa councillor Izak Berg said he was in possession of legitimate documents, including cheque numbers and invoices paid to McBride's lawyer, Dehal Incorporated, which showed that the amount spent by the council was over R6 million. - Sapa
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