Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the deadline for the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of attempts to halt the investigation or prosecution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Presidency announced that President Ramaphosa has set 31 July 2026 as the new date for the submission of the Commission’s final report. The Commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe, was established in May 2025 by a proclamation signed by President Ramaphosa. Retired Northern Cape Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and Advocate Andrea Gabriel SC were appointed as assisting commissioners.

The original Terms of Reference required the Commission to conclude its work within 180 days of its establishment and to submit its report to the President within 60 days thereafter. However, the President acknowledged several factors that delayed the Commission’s progress, including a late start, outstanding documentary responses, anticipated applications for cross-examination, and the upcoming recess from mid-December 2025 to early January 2026.

In response to these delays, President Ramaphosa amended the Terms of Reference, mandating the Commission to complete its work by 29 May 2026 and deliver its final report by 31 July 2026. The extension aims to ensure the Commission completes its work thoroughly and provides a comprehensive account of the circumstances that led to its establishment.