Johannesburg, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed retired Constitutional Court judge Sisi Khampepe to oversee the reopened Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases inquiry, a move that local sources report has triggered criticism from activists who say the decision risks weakening the body’s credibility.
According to local reports, several civil — society groups argue that Judge Khampepe’s long-standing professional links to the president could compromise perceptions of independence. They contend the appointment may slow or narrow the scope of investigations into apartheid-era crimes that the TRC originally documented but which were never prosecuted.
Official statements indicate the presidency selected Khampepe for her senior judicial experience and her prior role heading the 2018 inquiry into state capture at the South African Revenue Service.
The government stated in a communiqué that her legal background “equips her to ensure a rigorous, fair process” as investigators revisit unresolved TRC dossiers.
The TRC, which concluded its work in 1998, handed over more than 300 names of alleged perpetrators to prosecutors.
Decades later, fewer than a dozen cases have reached court.
In 2023, Ramaphosa authorised the creation of a dedicated investigative team under the National Prosecuting Authority, accompanied by a ministerial advisory panel to monitor progress. Sources close to the matter said the panel’s terms of reference remain unpublished, fuelling uncertainty over how much new evidence will be pursued.
Independent observers say the latest appointment revives concern that successive administrations have avoided confronting powerful figures linked to the former regime.
Reports suggest victims’ families worry that further delays could deny them closure; this could not be independently verified. Officials have not yet commented on whether Judge Khampepe will recuse herself from matters involving senior political office-bearers.
Further details are expected once the inquiry releases its operational timetable.
