Legal firestorm: Zuma accuses TRC Commission chair of collusion and coaching

Lawyers representing former President Jacob Zuma have levelled serious allegations against the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Commission of Inquiry, accusing her of colluding with evidence leaders and "coaching" them on their legal arguments.

Former President Zuma and his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, appeared before the commission on Friday to bring a formal application for the recusal of Justice Sisi Khampepe. The legal teams argued that Khampepe is inherently biased and unable to remain impartial, citing her previous role as a commissioner during the original TRC process.

The current commission is tasked with investigating allegations of political interference that have reportedly hindered the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.

The commission itself is among the parties opposing the recusal.

Arguing on behalf of the commission, Advocate Vas Soni faced sharp criticism from Zuma’s legal team. Zuma’s lawyers claim to possess email communications proving that Justice Khampepe coached Soni on his submissions via the Chief Evidence Leader, Advocate Ishmael Semenya.

Advocate Dali Mpofu, representing Zuma, argued that this alleged interference suggests the outcome of the recusal application is a "foregone conclusion."

"A simple example is this: you have a soccer game and the referee goes to the changing room of the other side and says, 'No, you must play this one.' Who does that? Which team, once it gets to know that knowledge, would continue playing in the second half? I wouldn’t."

The commission has reserved its ruling on the application for Justice Khampepe’s recusal.