Justice Sisi Virginia Khampepe’s last act as acting chief justice was to sign the warrant of committal for 79-year-old former president Jacob Zuma.
Khampepe’s acting term as chief justice ended on Wednesday, a day after she convicted Zuma of contempt of court and sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment.
Before her term ended, Justice Khampepe signed the warrant of committal to “command” the head of Westville Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal to receive Zuma into custody.
Meanwhile, Justice Khampepe has been replaced as acting chief justice by deputy chief Justice, Raymond Zondo, the chair of the state capture commission of inquiry.
“The appointment of Madam Justice S S V Khampepe as acting chief Justice by the president of the republic, came to an end on 30 June 2021,” said Friday’s statement issued by the Office of the Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng is still on long leave.
“Deputy Chief Justice [Raymond Zondo] will exercise the powers or perform the functions of the chief justice as the acting chief justice,” said the statement.
The work of the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption, and fraud in the public sector including organs of the state is winding down.
Only about six witnesses and President Cyril Ramaphosa are yet to testify.
Earlier this week the Zondo commission was granted an extension to the end of September to complete its work.
The statement said the inquiry had “reached a stage that the deputy chief justice will be in a position to fulfil his responsibilities as acting chief justice while attending to the finalisation of the commission’s work”.
Justice Zondo assumed his responsibilities as acting chief justice yesterday, 1 July 2021.
