The Democratic Alliance (DA) could ask for a parliamentary inquiry into the suspension of the executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)‚ Robert McBride.

McBride was suspended by Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko for allegedly getting rid of evidence implicating former Hawks boss Anwa Dramat and others in carrying out illegal renditions of Zimbabweans.

The DA said it welcomed the decision to have Nhleko appear before the Portfolio Committee on Police‚ but “should the minister’s briefing not satisfy the committee‚ [the party] will move that a full parliamentary inquiry be instituted to probe the chaos that has ensued at both the Hawks and the IPID”.

This comes in the wake of reports that Nhleko will issue a warrant for the arrest of McBride.

Media outlets at the weekend said a report compiled by attorneys for Nhleko found that evidence implicating Dramat was expunged from the IPID’s initial report‚ allegedly by McBride.

“This is bizarre considering that the minister originally claimed‚ without a shred of evidence‚ that only the departed Hawks head Dramat and suspended Gauteng Hawks boss‚ Shadrack Sibiya‚ were the chief proponents of these renditions‚” said Zakhele Mbhele‚ the DA’s shadow deputy minister of police.

“The minister has clearly got himself into a bind and cannot get his story straight‚” Mbhele added.

“He is trying everything to make a problem he created go away. Parliament must step in and get to the bottom of this chaos to help restore law and order within the police ministry.”

The DA also believed Nhleko is desperate to absolve himself after the Constitutional Court ruled in November that he has no grounds to suspend the head of the Hawks without consultation with Parliament.