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The Helen Suzman Foundation rejected Paul O’Sullivan’s claim that he funded its legal fight for former IPID head Robert McBride, saying its work was independent.
Deaan Vivier/Beeld/Gallo Images
- The HSF dismissed Paul O’Sullivan’s claim that he funded its legal efforts for former IPID head Robert McBride.
- The foundation said its involvement in McBride’s cases was independent, with legal teams working pro bono.
- HSF confirmed O’Sullivan’s R100 000 donation in 2019 but said it was general and not linked to any case.
The Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) dismissed claims by forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan that he had financially backed its legal efforts to support former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride.
The foundation clarified that its involvement in McBride’s 2015 and 2019 cases was independent. Legal teams, including Webber Wentzel, worked pro bono to safeguard IPID’s independence and constitutional principles.
The foundation acknowledged a one-off R100 000 donation from O’Sullivan in 2019 but emphasised that it was general in nature, used for core operations, and unrelated to any specific case.
During an interview with journalist Alec Hogg earlier in October, O’Sullivan said he had “funded” the foundation with a substantial amount of money to help overturn McBride’s 2015 suspension as IPID head.
In a statement, Kalim Rajab, the foundation’s board of trustees chairperson, dismissed O’Sullivan’s comments as “an unfortunate mischaracterisation”.
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HSF said its involvement in the matter was entirely independent and that O’Sullivan’s version of events was inaccurate.
The foundation said it acted as amicus curiae in McBride’s case against the police minister in the North Gauteng High Court in 2015, and later in the Constitutional Court appeal in 2016.
Its legal representatives, Webber Wentzel and senior counsel, both worked on the matter pro bono.
The foundation said:
In the course of this public interest matter, Mr O’Sullivan, on behalf of Forensics for Justice, did engage in consultations with us along with Webber Wentzel’s pro bono department.
HSF added that it again appeared as amicus in McBride’s 2019 urgent High Court application concerning the non-renewal of his contract as IPID executive director, but did not engage with O’Sullivan during that case.
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The foundation later took the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal, arguing that the settlement reached in the High Court allowed executive interference in renewing McBride’s contract and compromised IPID’s independence.
“Our involvement in the McBride matters was guided solely by our mission to advance constitutionalism and safeguard the independence of key state institutions. We are committed never to compromise on our independence and to conduct our work without fear or favour,” said the foundation.
