Ramaphosa calls for swift conclusion to Khampepe recusal court application
President Cyril Ramaphosa urged a swift High Court decision on Judge Sisi Khampepe’s recusal from the apartheid-era crimes inquiry, stressing the need for justice, accountability, and continuity of the commission’s work for victims.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the swift conclusion of the application for Judge Sisi Khampepe to recuse herself from the inquiry tasked with investigating delays in apartheid-era crimes.
The application, filed by former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki, will be heard in the High Court in Johannesburg on Monday.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said the current review applications could be detrimental to the interests of the victims, who want closure and accountability from the government.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa remains committed to seeking justice for the victims of apartheid-era crimes whose cry for justice cannot be swept under the carpet,” Magwenya said.
But Magwenya added that for this to happen, the application needs to be concluded.
“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,” Magwenya said
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Ramaphosa previously indicated in court papers that he would not oppose the removal of Khampepe as chair if ordered by the courts.
Mbeki and Zuma approached the High Court to have Khampepe removed as chair of the commission due to what they described as institutional bias.
The applications cite alleged conflicts of interest arising from Khampepe’s previous roles at the TRC and the National Prosecuting Authority.
The former apex court justice is also accused of giving undisclosed legal advice to the commission’s chief evidence leader, Ishmail Semenya, raising questions about impartiality.
In January, Khampepe dismissed the recusal application brought by the former presidents, saying both applicants had failed to give proper reasons for their recusal request.
In the court papers, Ramaphosa also said he instructed the Minister of Justice, Mmamaloko Kubayi, to ask the former justice to stand down as chair. According to Ramaphosa, Khampepe declined.
“President Ramaphosa's foremost concern is the integrity of an overdue process. Thus, the president believes the court is best placed to make a determination on the matter. This does not constitute a desire to collapse the commission and its work,” Magwenya said on Sunday
He added that the commission will continue its work once the court delivers a decision and guides the way forward.
