Following multiple delays and challenges, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into delays in prosecuting Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) related cases has welcomed the revised terms of reference and date extension issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

According to the proclamation notice 302 of 2025, the TRC Cases Inquiry must conclude its work by Friday, May 29, 2026, and submit its report to the president within 60 days after the date on which it completes its work.

Ramaphosa had initially given the commission six months to carry out its work. However, more than six months after it was established, it has yet to see its first witness take the stand and has now been forced to ask the president for an extension.

On Sunday, the TRC cases spokesperson Lionel Aderndorf said the commission chairperson, Justice Sisi Khampepe, has noted the decision of Ramaphosa to amend the terms of reference.

Aderndorf revealed that the extension was necessitated by the delays in the lease agreement and other procurement challenges.

“This extension was necessitated because, despite the initial promulgation on May 29, 2025, the appointment of the inquiry’s Secretariat was not made until August 1, 2025. Then, the inquiry experienced various procurement delays, with the lease agreement, for example, only being signed at the end of September 2025.

“Following the Request for Information and Rule 3.3 notices issued in September 2025 to various government agencies and departments, many requested extensions, and the final date for all information to be submitted was Wednesday, November 26, 2025,” he said.

Aderndorf added that over the next two weeks, the commission will be collecting all outstanding responses and following up with all those who applied for extensions.

He added that only then will the commission begin the work of going through all the information and evidence collected over the last two months in preparation for oral hearings that will start on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, and will run until Thursday, May 21, 2026.

In the meantime, Aderndorf indicated that the inquiry commissioners will still need to rule on the application, brought by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the National Prosecuting Authority, for the recusal of the Chief Evidence Leader, Advocate Ishmael Semenya SC.

Last week, the commission announced that it will not be hearing testimonies until next year, as proceedings have stalled due to applications made by the parties involved.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za 

Source link