High Court reserves judgement in matter of TRC inquiry chair's decision to stay put

The Johannesburg High Court has reserved judgement in a matter seeking to set aside Judge Sisi Khampepe’s decision not to recuse herself as chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases inquiry.
 
Former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki want the judge removed from the position, citing bias.
 
Khampepe’s legal team has rejected the claim, insisting there is no connection between her past roles and her current duties.

ALSO READ: Khampepe rejects removal attempt, accuses former presidents of undermining TRC inquiry
 
Her lawyer, Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi, said her previous role in the TRC is irrelevant to the current inquiry.
 
He also dismissed claims that her time at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) creates conflict.
 
“The fundamental point that the judge is making is that I cannot see any logical connection because what the subject matter is different, the temporality of scope takes me out of it. So, there can be no overlapping roles. This is not the case of a person who used to be a witness or a prosecutor who's now a judge in the same cases that they were witnessing or prosecuting.”