Robert McBride Tells Sibonelo Nomvalo to Mind His Own Business, Sparks Anger With ‘Watch It’ Threat

• Robert McBride warned the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party's Sibonelo Nomvalo to mind his own business
• McBride was unhappy with one of Nomvalo's questions about his arrests and a family member
• Members of Parliament were not impressed with McBride's comment and criticised him for the threats

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

WESTERN CAPE – Robert McBride has again angered Parliamentarians, this time over his threat towards Sibonelo Nomvalo during his appearance before the Ad Hoc Committee in Cape Town.

McBride, the former head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), told the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party member to ‘watch it’ in response to a question during Ad Hoc Committee proceedings.

McBride has already been criticised for his conduct before the committee, with Parliamentarians accusing him of being disrespectful. McBride made the recent comment on 21 January 2026, during his second day of testimony before the committee.

Read also

EFF supporter gogo encourages Julius Malema in viral video ahead of pre-sentencing

The committee is probing allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption within the criminal justice system. The allegations were made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner, during an explosive press briefing on 6 July 2025.

McBride tells Nomvalo to mind his own business

During his time to ask questions, the MK Party’s Nomvalo questioned McBride about his previous arrest. He noted that one of the cases involved one of McBride’s family members, asking if it was his child.

The question angered the former IPID head, who told Nomvalo that he was starting to get personal. When the MK Party member stated that he was just asking a question, McBride fired back.

“No, you're asking about my child. You shouldn't be. You should mind your own business about my family,” he said.

When Nomvalo reiterated that it was public knowledge, McBride said it was, but also about his family. He then uttered the ‘watch it’ threat, which sparked anger.

Read also

Robert McBride tells Parliament Paul O’Sullivan is eccentric and sulks when he doesn’t get his way

Parliamentarians frustrated with McBride’s threat

The ‘watch it’ comment did not sit well with Parliamentarians, as Leigh-Ann Mathys and Dereleen James both criticised him for it. They also called on chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, to protect them from McBride’s comments.

It was not the first time that Members of Parliament voiced annoyance with McBride’s attitude towards proceedings. Lekganyane then had to step in and call for cooler heads to prevail. It was not the first time, either, that the chairperson had to appeal to McBride to check his tone.

Other stories about McBride

Briefly News reported that the former IPID head is no stranger to being in the news.

• McBride confirmed during his appearance before Parliament that he is a member of the African National Congress (ANC).
• McBride, the former IPID head, was suspended from the State Security Agency (SSA) in July 2021.
• Khomotso Phahlane testified before Parliament that McBride and Paul O'Sullivan were working together.

Source: Briefly News