Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma are set to go ahead with their objections to the appointment of retired justice Sisi Khampepe as the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) prosecutions commission.
The former heads of state and several former cabinet ministers want Khampepe to recuse herself, citing possible impartiality by the judge.
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The inquiry was set up in 2025 to investigate allegations of interference and efforts to stop the prosecution of TRC cases.
In their separate applications, Mbeki and Zuma previously said the objection against Khampepe is not intended to block accountability but to ensure a fair and impartial process.
Spokesperson of the Jacob Zuma Foundation, Mzwanele Manyi, said Mbeki and Zuma have now filed their final replying affidavits.
“In their respective filings, their excellencies identify serious deficiencies in the commission’s answering affidavit, which purports to oppose the recusal application. In terms of the commission’s directives, all parties will file their heads of argument by Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The public hearing of the recusal application is scheduled to take place on 16 January 2026 at 10h00.”