Arguing against the application by the two in Braamfontein Johannesburg today where the inquiry is seating, he said they were well aware of the previous positions Khampepe held at the TRC and the National Prosecuting Authority when the Inquiry was established in May last year. Soni says Zuma has long-held his view on Khampepe.

“There was a duty on Zuma to speak up arising out of his long-held view that the chairperson was biased against him arising from those judgments. He wasn’t simply permitted to stand by and bide his time and we submit commissioners that bringing an application for recusal at such a late stage implicates the interests of justice and it’s not just the interests of justice of the parties but also the the wider public. The late bringing of recusal applications can have quite a massive impact, it can delay proceedings further, it can even derail them. This would not be in the interest of justice and there is a duty of course on both courts and the commissions to ensure that such abuses are curtailed,” Soni said.

–SABC–