Zuma Foundation To Open Criminal Case Against Retired Justice Sisi Khampepe

The Jacob Zuma Foundation says it intends to open a criminal case against retired Justice Sisi Khampepe following the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of an application by former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki seeking her recusal from the TRC Cases Inquiry.

Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said the foundation would also lodge a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), alleging that Khampepe engaged in unlawful and unethical conduct in relation to the inquiry’s evidence leader.

Manyi’s comments follow the Constitutional Court’s decision to reject the recusal bid involving Khampepe, who is presiding over the inquiry.

Foundation Sets Out Further Legal Action

Manyi said Zuma, whom he described as the foundation’s patron, would pursue two further avenues following the court’s decision.

“What lies ahead is that the patron of the foundation will do two things. One, we’re going to open a criminal case against Justice Khampepe. There’s evidence in the papers that there’s something that she’s done which is unlawful between herself and the evidence leader,” Manyi said.

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The foundation also intends to take the matter to the JSC.

“What’s also going to happen is that we’re also going to submit a complaint to the Judicial Services Commission. We think the unethical conduct of that nature, such an impeachable issue, cannot go unpunished,” Manyi added.

Allegations Follow Failed Recusal Bid

The planned criminal complaint and JSC submission are based on allegations advanced by the Zuma Foundation. Manyi did not provide further details in the supplied material about the alleged conduct or identify the specific evidence on which the foundation intends to rely.

The Constitutional Court’s dismissal of Zuma and Mbeki’s application means their bid to have Khampepe removed from the inquiry was unsuccessful.

The foundation’s proposed actions therefore represent a further challenge to Khampepe’s role in the proceedings, although the allegations made by Manyi have not been established as fact in the material provided.

JSC Complaint Also Planned

The foundation says its intended complaint to the JSC will focus on what it characterises as unethical conduct and an issue serious enough to warrant consideration as an impeachable matter.

No response from Khampepe, the JSC or the evidence leader is included in the supplied material, The Johannesburg Times was told.