Pretoria – Suspended Ipid head Robert McBride has accused police minister Nathi Nhleko of threatening the police watchdog’s independence,eNCA reported on Friday.

In court papers filed at the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday, McBride argued that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate cannot act with impartiality if its head can be suspended by the minister of police.

The embattled head goes on to say that an executive director would not be able to carry out his or her responsibilities as a police abuses watchdog for fear of losing his or her job.

McBride added that public trust in Ipid’s independence is essential, Eyewitness News reported on Friday.

On Thursday, News24 reported that the police watchdog was busy with “sensitive investigations” against high-ranking members of the police.

These members are suspected of “abusing their positions to protect certain criminal syndicates… or turning a blind eye to their nefarious activities”, he said in the same court papers filed against Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko.

The matter will be heard over the next two weeks.