Former president Jacob Zuma’s appearance before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Cases Inquiry has been postponed following his recent hospitalisation.

Zuma was scheduled to testify on Thursday, 22 October, before the judicial commission chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe.

According to a report, the decision followed discussions between Zuma’s legal representatives and the commission.

A new date for his appearance has not yet been confirmed.

ZUMA’S HEALTH CONCERNS DELAY TESTIMONY

The postponement comes amid concerns about the 84-year-old former president’s health, which also forced the MK Party to cancel its election manifesto launch in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.

MK Party parliamentary leader John Hlophe previously acknowledged that cancelling the event was necessary given Zuma’s condition.

Meanwhile, the Jacob Zuma Foundation has appealed for privacy, saying it would not provide minute-by-minute updates on his recovery.

Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi criticised repeated media enquiries, describing them as an invasion of Zuma’s privacy and dignity.

His health will now be a factor in determining when he can give evidence before the commission.

MBEKI NEXT TO TESTIFY BEFORE TRC INQUIRY

While Zuma’s appearance remains on hold, former president Thabo Mbeki is scheduled to testify on Monday, 19 October, and Tuesday, 20 October.

The inquiry is investigating allegations that political interference prevented the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes referred by the original Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

President Cyril Ramaphosa established the judicial commission in May 2025 to determine whether senior political figures or government officials influenced decisions to delay or abandon criminal prosecutions.

The proceedings are expected to shed light on why several cases remained unresolved decades after the end of apartheid.

ZUMA AND MBEKI’S LEGAL CHALLENGE

Both former presidents previously challenged Khampepe’s appointment as chairperson, raising concerns about her impartiality because of her earlier involvement in the original TRC and the National Prosecuting Authority.

However, the Constitutional Court dismissed their challenge in August, clearing the way for the commission to continue under her leadership.

The inquiry is now examining whether political pressure influenced decisions not to prosecute individuals implicated in apartheid-era atrocities.

For families who have spent decades seeking justice, the proceedings offer another opportunity to establish why certain cases never reached court.

With Mbeki’s appearance approaching, attention will turn to his evidence while the commission works to secure a new date for Zuma’s testimony.