The Khampepe Commission into unresolved Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases has hit a roadblock as key parties plan to file recusal applications against its chair. Weeks ahead of its public hearings, unresolved internal challenges and looming legal manoeuvres are now threatening to delay the process.
The judicial inquiry established to investigate delays in prosecuting apartheid‑era cases has encountered fresh complications, casting uncertainty over its scheduled launch. The probe, chaired by former Constitutional Court judge Sisi Khampepe, was set to begin hearing opening statements this month, but now faces internal stagnation as some interested parties signal an intention to bring applications to recuse the chairperson and possibly other commissioners.
The move comes amidst prior warnings of non‑cooperation from government departments and agencies, which investigators say have failed to submit requested documentation and witness statements. Despite the inquiry’s anticipation of launching on 10 November, the prospect of recusal challenges has created fresh uncertainty about whether hearings can proceed as planned.
Stakeholders close to the process say these threats of recusal may be a strategic tactic by those who fear the inquiry’s work may reveal uncomfortable truths. For victim families seeking closure, the pause raises the prospect that years of waiting may be extended further.
The commission’s terms of reference encompass examining alleged interference in investigations of cases referred by the TRC to the National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Police Service since 2003. But the backlash and procedural delays now threaten to shift the focus from fact‑finding to legal wrangling.
What remains to be seen is whether the inquiry can regain momentum, assert its authority, and deliver on its promise to uncover the truth for families still waiting for justice.
