Profile of Robert McBride on Famous Like Me

Robert McBride (born on July 6, 1963 in Durban, South Africa) was the man behind the bombing of Magoo's Bar in Durban in 1984. Three people were killed and 69 others were injured in the bombing.

Early Life

He grew up in Wentworth, a suburb about 11 km from Durban. His parents were schoolteachers. He went to Fairvale High School in Wentworth. He was taught martial arts by his father. His father started teaching him martial arts after he was beaten by a much older boy in the neighbourhood. He was arrested for questioning the police regarding the beating of a youth when he was just 13.

He developed political views at an early age due to influence of his father. He was particularly influenced by two books. They first was A. J. Venter's Coloured: A profile of 2 million South Africans which talks about the efforts of coloured political activists like James April, Don Mattera, Jakes Gerwel, Basil February and his uncle, Rev. Clive McBride. The second one was Soledad Brothers - the prison letters of George Jackson. This book deals with an African-American associated with the Black Panther movement.

Activities

A sabotage was attempted on the oil refinery near his house in 1984 by Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), ANC's military wing. He was later on recruited into the ANC. He became an active member of ANC. He commanded the cell which caused the destruction of the ‘Why Not’ Bar in Durban, which became known as the Magoo’s Bar bombing. Many civilians were killed and injured in this attack and this irked the White South Africans. Mcbride became a heroic figure among the coloured South Africans. In 1986, he carried out a daring act and freed a wounded MK commander in a shootout with the police at Edendale hospital.

Later on he was captured and convicted but was finally reprieved while on death row. In 1992, he was granted amnesty at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the complete disclosure of his acts of violence.After his release from prison, he started working for peace. On 9 March 1998, McBride, now a high-ranking official in the Department of Foreign Affairs is arrested by the Mozambican police in Ressano Garcia, Mozambique for alleged gun smuggling weapons from Mozambique to South Africa.

He married Paula Leyden while he was under punishment but now they have separated. He is currently residing in Johannesburg and is the Chief of Police in Johannesburg's East Rand district.

External Links

• Biography
• A BBC article on his appointment as Police Chief

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