By Simon Nare
The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has dismissed, with costs, a court bid by former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki to have Truth and Reconciliation Cases Inquiry chairperson, retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe, recuse herself from the proceedings.
The former presidents separately brought applications to the court, arguing that Khampepe was biased and should step aside because she had previously worked for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
They lost on a technicality, with Judge President Selby Baqwa ruling that they failed to obtain the consent of Chief Justice Mandisa Maya before launching the application.
“The applicants’ non-compliance with Section 47 of the Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013 rendered the proceedings a nullity,” Baqwa said.
In his ruling, Baqwa explained that it was common cause that the applicants were required by law to secure the Chief Justice’s consent
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