The Constitutional Court on 31 August 2026 dismissed an application by former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki to have retired Justice Sisi Khampepe recused as chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases inquiry, allowing her to remain in the role. The judgment, handed down at the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein, concluded a challenge that had cast uncertainty over the inquiry’s leadership.
The court dealt with two urgent applications related to the recusal ruling, according to the judgment published on the Constitutional Court’s website. News24, The Citizen, and SABC News independently confirmed the dismissal, reporting that Khampepe would continue presiding over the inquiry examining allegations of interference in TRC-related prosecutions.
The Citizen reported on 31 August 2026: “Former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki have failed in their latest attempt to have retired judge Sisi Khampepe removed as chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases inquiry after the Constitutional Court dismissed their review application.”
Separately, a suspect arrested in connection with an alleged R635 million fraud at Tembisa Hospital in Ekurhuleni was expected to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, sitting at Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, on 31 August 2026. The South African Government News Agency reported the arrest on 30 August 2026, though the identity of the suspect has not been independently confirmed by Cape Flats News.
The Tembisa Hospital fraud case has drawn sustained public attention amid ongoing scrutiny over procurement irregularities at Gauteng health facilities. The R635 million figure cited in the arrest adds to mounting concerns about financial management at the hospital, which has featured in previous investigative reporting by several national outlets.
On the economic front, motorists absorbed August’s fuel price changes that took effect on 5 August 2026, with petrol decreasing by 52 cents per litre while diesel 0.05% surged by 138.44 cents per litre and diesel 0.005% by 123.44 cents per litre. The figures were announced by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe in a government statement, with Independent Newspapers reporting on 29 July 2026 that the diesel hikes had been flagged as a looming price shock.
The Constitutional Court judgment is verified by the court’s published record and corroborated by SABC News, News24, and The Citizen reporting from Braamfontein. The Tembisa arrest is confirmed by the South African Government News Agency, and the fuel price figures are drawn from the official government statement dated 3 August 2026.
It remains unclear whether Zuma or Mbeki’s legal teams plan further applications regarding the TRC inquiry leadership. Cape Flats News journalist Nadia Adams will monitor the Tembisa Hospital court proceedings and report on the next fuel price adjustment expected in early September 2026.