Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride will know by the end of this month if he will face a charge of drunken driving, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday.
NPA spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi said police had been asked to finalise the case by May 25 when McBride’s dossier had to be back with the NPA for a decision on whether to prosecute him.
”We will definitely make an announcement after May 25 whether the police have finalised their case or not,” said Lesufi.
”This case has been dragging on for far to long. It has been moving from one office to another and I think it is unfair on all parties involved.”
McBride was involved in a single-vehicle accident on the R51 near Centurion on December 21.
Witnesses at the scene alleged to the media that McBride was ”blind drunk” and that they had been assaulted and threatened by metro police officers.
McBride denied having been drunk — or having any recollection of how the accident happened or where he had been driving to.
He acknowledged that blood tests had been taken at the hospital but that the tests had not been done to check for alcohol.
Gauteng police spokesperson Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo denied having any knowledge of a blood test being taken. In earlier reports the police, however, promised to hand the NPA the witness statements that allege McBride was drunk.
Opposition parties have criticised the police for the delay in handing the McBride’s docket to the NPA.
McBride has been the subject of much controversy with allegations against him, including misuse and abuse of power and resources, promoting racism, victimisation and assault. — Sapa