Khampepe rejects removal attempt, accuses former presidents of undermining TRC inquiry

Justice Sisi Khampepe, who chairs the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Inquiry, has described efforts by former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki to have her removed as baseless and without merit.

In a strongly worded affidavit, Khampepe said the application is "stillborn" and has asked the court to order the two to pay costs.

Zuma and Mbeki have accused her of bias, citing roles she allegedly played nearly 30 years ago.

Court papers last week revealed that President Cyril Ramaphosa, who appointed Khampepe, does not oppose her removal and instructed Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to ask her to step down.

But Khampepe declined.

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Mbeki’s name has already surfaced during testimony before the commission, with a witness alleging he attempted to suppress cases arising from the TRC process through an alleged pact with former Security Branch generals and their lawyers to not go ahead with prosecutions.

Khampepe, who was part of the Constitutional Court bench that jailed Zuma for contempt of the State Capture Commission, said the two former heads of state are undermining the commission’s work through what she calls meaningless litigation.

She said that, as former presidents, they should know better, adding that the inquiry serves the public interest.

Khampepe also said the applications have caused significant delays to the commission’s work, which is expected to conclude hearings by May and submit its report to the president by July.