Robert McBride (police Officer) - Militant Anti-apartheid Activities

Militant Anti-apartheid Activities

He developed political views at an early age due to influence of his father. He was particularly influenced by two books: A. J. Venter's Coloured: A Profile of 2 Million South Africans which describes the efforts of coloured political activists such as James April, Don Mattera, Jakes Gerwel, Basil February, and his uncle, Rev. Clive McBride; and Soledad Brothers: The Prison Letters of George Jackson, written by a founding member of the American Black Guerrilla Family.

In 1984, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the ANC's military wing, attempted to sabotage the oil refinery near his home. McBride was soon recruited into the ANC and became an active member. On 26 April 1986, he carried out a daring act and freed Gordon Webster, a wounded MK commander, in a shootout with the police at Edendale Hospital.

Most well known was his leadership of the cell that bombed the "Why Not" Restaurant and Magoo's Bar in Durban on 14 June 1986, an attack in which 3 women were killed and 69 injured. He was captured and convicted for the Durban bombing, and sentenced to death, but later reprieved while on death row. In 1992, he was released after his actions were classified as politically motivated. He was later granted amnesty at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which provided for amnesty in return for complete disclosure of acts of politically motivated violence, after the ANC changed their early denials of involvement to a claim that they ordered the bombing.

The South African government at the time had portrayed the attack as being aimed targeted at innocent civilians, which given that the bomb was detonated on the highly popular 'Golden Mile' seafront frequented by thousands of civilians and tourists was understandable. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa) report stated "It seems that not many, if any, of the victims in this incident were members of the South African Police. Furthermore, the criticisms directed at the quality of reconnaissance of the "Why Not Bar" might very well be valid. It may be, as was argued, that he ought to have ensured at the relevant time that the primary targets of the attack were present and therefore the concept of the proportionality of the attack and its results must be considered." McBride and others were granted amnesty for the attack, although the commission did find the bombing to be a "gross violation of human rights", as well for other offences including those arising from the escape of Gordon Webster.

During 2006 McBride received the Merit Medal in Silver and the Conspicuous Leadership Star from the South African National Defence Force for his service and combat leadership in Umkhonto We Sizwe.