Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride received his BTech degree in policing from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) on Friday.
”I work hard, I study hard. I’m really committed to everything I do, so I gave it a good shot,” said McBride, who was also the best performer during the course.
Accompanied by his wife Nina, McBride said he studied the degree to gain more theoretical knowledge about policing.
”I will probably register next semester to do a master’s [degree] — one has to keep abreast of developments and knowledge.
”I will continue studying, it is a lifelong process” he said.
In 2003 when he was appointed as Ekurhuleni’s police chief, McBride was criticised by opposition political parties for not having the right qualifications for the job.
At the time McBride argued that his background in the struggle gave him the skills to tackle the problem of crime.
On Friday he said he felt he needed to study for the degree to gain the necessary theoretical background.
McBride was one of almost a thousand students who lined up to receive their degrees at the ceremony held at TUT’s Soshanguve campus, North of Pretoria.
He was joined by Johannesburg station Commissioner Simon Mpembe, who also received his BTech degree in policing. — Sapa