Ramaphosa says won’t oppose Khampepe’s removal from TRC Inquiry

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in papers before the High Court in Johannesburg, says he does not object to the court ordering the removal of Retired Justice Sisi Khampepe as TRC Inquiry Chairperson.

JUST IN: Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa has filed papers responding to fmr Pres. Mbeki & fmr Pres. Zuma’s court bid to have Justice Sisi Khampepe removed as TRC Inquiry Chair. Ramaphosa says he does not object to her removal & that she was asked to step down, but she declined #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/dfhVa9Ms7U

— Canny Maphanga (@CannyMaphanga) March 6, 2026

Ramaphosa says had he been aware of the allegations against Khampepe, he would not have appointed her.

Former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma have turned to the High Court to review Khampepe’s ruling which refused the pair’s application for her recusal, citing an apprehension of bias, due to her previous role in the initial TRC.

Former President Thabo Mbeki has filed papers in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg to join former President Jacob Zuma’s review application to challenge Justice Sisi Khampepe’s refusal to recuse herself as Chairperson of the Truth Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Cases… pic.twitter.com/fjIUZ6IbdK

— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 13, 2026

Papers reveal that President Ramaphosa asked the Minister of Justice to approach Justice Khampepe to consider standing down in light of the controversy around her appointment and the damage to the public image of the Commission. However, Khampepe declined.

VIDEO | Ramaphosa won’t object to court order for Khampepe’s removal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq01CwmCGzY