TRC Inquiry to hear arguments by Zuma’s lawyers on Khampepe’s recusal

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Cases Inquiry will on Friday hear oral argument by former president Jacob Zuma’s lawyers as to why its Chairperson, Justice Sisi Khampepe should step down.

Late last year, Zuma applied for Khampepe’s recusal on the grounds that she was unsuitable to lead the commission based on previous positions she has held.

In his founding affidavit, Zuma says Justice Khampepe will most likely find herself in the undesirable position of having to hear the testimony of witnesses which include her former colleagues and superiors at the TRC and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Zuma additionally alleges that Khampepe has acted improperly by secretly conferring with the inquiry’s Chief Evidence leader Advocate Ismael Semenya to ensure that the recusal application against him brought by a number of state institutions and families of victims fails.

For this he wants her hauled before the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

Finally, he charges that her hatred for him, while a Constitutional Court Judge, lead to the unlawful judgment which saw him sentenced to 15 months in jail for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission.

Zuma’s application has been followed by that of former president Thabo Mbeki who, together with those of former Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla, former acting Justice Minister Thoko Didiza and former Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChObKtIYKAg