The court appearance is in all likelihood linked to allegations that he assaulted a teenaged girl. Details of the alleged attack emerged in The Sunday Times with the 15-year old claiming that McBride had throttled her.

This prompted him to issue a statement confirming that the minor child who was not named in the media report, was in fact his daughter and that he had merely tried to “admonish” her. McBride denied that he had assaulted the girl. 

He was released on bail of R10 000 and is scheduled to appear in court again on October 2.

“Mr McBride would like the trial to start as soon as possible so that he can clear his name,” said Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini in a statement. DM

Photo: Robert McBride, IPID head, appeared in court on charges of assault relating to an incident involving his daughter. McBride is no stranger to court process and in this file photo he is at the Constitutional Court in September 2010 during an appeal by the Citizen newspaper against an award of damages and defamation granted to him. Photo: Werner Beukes/SAPA