{"id":37102,"date":"2026-03-30T14:56:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/?p=37102"},"modified":"2026-03-30T14:56:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:56:31","slug":"khampepe-to-remain-trc-inquiry-chair-after-court-dismisses-removal-bid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/2026\/03\/30\/khampepe-to-remain-trc-inquiry-chair-after-court-dismisses-removal-bid\/","title":{"rendered":"Khampepe to remain TRC inquiry chair after court dismisses removal bid"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image credit: @TRC_inquiry\/X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Inquiry has welcomed the Gauteng High Court’s dismissal of former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma’s application to remove retired Constitutional Court, Justice Sisi Khampepe<\/a>, <\/span>as chair of the commission.<\/p>\n

Mbeki and Zuma filed separate objections, arguing that Khampepe\u2019s previous roles in the TRC Amnesty Committee and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) raised concerns about her impartiality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They also alleged that she colluded with the commission’s Chief Evidence Leader, Advocate Ishmael Semenya, to defeat a recusal application.<\/span><\/p>\n

Khampepe was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa<\/a> in May 2025 <\/span> to lead the inquiry into whether efforts were made to block the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.<\/p>\n

However, Ramaphosa\u00a0<\/span>later reversed his position, calling for Khampepe to recuse herself, saying he would not have appointed her had he been aware of her prior involvement with the TRC.<\/p>\n

He further indicated that he would not oppose any court decision on her recusal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the court\u2019s ruling, Ramaphosa has committed to acting swiftly to ensure the inquiry resumes.<\/p>\n

“The President has been deeply concerned by the current review applications that could be detrimental to the interests of the victims who want closure and accountability from the government regarding their family members, and that these applications have the potential to defeat the main objective for the establishment of the Commission,” the Presidency said in a statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

TRC Inquiry spokesperson, Lionel Adendorf, says the commission is confident it can now proceed without further disruption.<\/p>\n

“We are certain that this was the last hurdle after so many attempts to delay our work, to frustrate our work. Now we can continue with our work uninterrupted. We have already had twenty-one (21) hearing days.\u00a0 We already had testimony of almost thirty (30) witnesses<\/span>. And we are certain that from this point forward we will be able to call others to also contribute to our work.”<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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