An inquiry into the tragic Johannesburg inner-city blaze, which claimed the lives of 77 people on August 31, has been marred by controversy as one of the appointed commissioners faces accusations of supporting xenophobic groups. The commissioner in question, Adv. Thulani Makhubela, a member of the Usindiso inquiry investigating the cause of the fire, is accused of endorsing the xenophobic organization Operation Dudula.
The presiding Justice Sisi Khampepe has deferred judgment on an application seeking Makhubela’s recusal, following allegations of xenophobic remarks on his social media profile. The recusal request has garnered support from various parties at the inquiry, including the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (Seri), survivors of the fire, and the Inner City Federation (ICF).
During the proceedings, Jason Brickhill, the director of litigation at Seri and legal representative of both Seri and the ICF, highlighted the reasons behind the call for Makhubela’s recusal. Brickhill pointed to evidence presented by Seri, the ICF, and former residents of the building, indicating Makhubela’s apparent bias due to his public association with Operation Dudula and the Put South Africans First groups.
The application for Makhubela’s recusal is based on the apprehension of bias stemming from his extensive history of publicly supporting Operation Dudula and Put South Africans First through social media posts over the past five years.
As the inquiry continues, the cloud of uncertainty over the commissioner’s alleged affiliations raises concerns about the integrity and fairness of the investigation, posing questions about the ability to uncover the truth behind the tragic fire that devastated the Johannesburg inner-city.
