BARNEY MTHOMBOTHI | What are Zuma and Mbeki trying to hide about apartheid-era crimes?

Timeslive · Apr 25, 2026 · 1026 words · By Barney Mthombothi

Accountability for apartheid-era crimes Political Misconduct of Former Leaders (Mbeki/Zuma) Critique of Current Political Leadership (Ramaphosa)

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Generate a natural audio summary of this story

Daily briefing

What to know about Accountability for apartheid-era crimes

Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma — an unlikely twosome — need to explain to the country why they want justice Sisi Khampepe thrown out as chair of the judicial commission of inquiry into potential political interference in the prosecution of…

Claims checked 14

Techniques found 6

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

There’s something distressingly untoward, indeed odious, about two former presidents still living large at the expense of the state — lucrative presidential pay for the rest of their lives, elaborate security details and civil servants at their beck and call…

Common ground

One would have thought they’d do everything to assist the commission, or at the very least come forward to explain the unpopular decisions they had to make.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Appeal to Anger: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Accountability for apartheid-era crimes story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that When the two former presidents initially raised their objection, Ramaphosa meekly asked Khampepe to resign, and when she rightfully refused, he told the court he would abide by whatever decision it made?
How does this story connect Accountability for apartheid-era crimes with Political Misconduct of Former Leaders (Mbeki/Zuma) over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.timeslive.co.za/opinion/2026-04-25-barney-mthombothi-what-are-zuma-a…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 6 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 85% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Anger 90% confidence

Provoking outrage to bypass rational evaluation of an argument.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to anger helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Hasty Generalization 80% confidence

Drawing broad conclusions from a small or unrepresentative sample.

Why it matters: Recognizing hasty generalization helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Guilt by Association 75% confidence

Discrediting an idea by linking it to a disliked group or person.

Why it matters: Recognizing guilt by association helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Selective Omission 70% confidence

Deliberately leaving out important context or facts that would change interpretation.

Why it matters: Recognizing selective omission helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

schedule Pending 4

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

check_circle

Claim 1: “When the two former presidents initially raised their objection, Ramaphosa meekly asked Khampepe to resign, and when she rightfully refused, he told the court he would abide by whatever decision it made.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm that Ramaphosa was involved in the discussion regarding Khampepe's removal, stating he did not object to her removal, which aligns with the narrative of him initially asking her to step aside.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jacob Zuma, the former President of South Africa, was imprisoned on 7 July 2021 following a finding by the Constitutional Court of South Africa that he was guilty of contempt of court. The charges ori…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Zuma_contempt_of_court

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sisi Virginia Khampepe (born 8 January 1957) is a retired South African judge who served in the Constitutional Court of South Africa between October 2009 and October 2021. Formerly a prominent labour …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisi_Khampepe

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (Xhosa: [tʰaɓɔ ʼmbɛːki]; born 18 June 1942) is a South African politician and economist who served as the president of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, when he…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thabo_Mbeki

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 2: “Mbeki helpfully rocked up at the commission to rubbish all claims of malfeasance in the deal.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Although the context involves the Seriti commission, no evidence was gathered in the search results or Wikipedia entries that specifically state Mbeki appeared at the commission to refute claims of malfeasance.

check_circle

Claim 3: “A few months later, the ANC, now under Zuma’s thumb, recalled Mbeki as the country’s president.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm that Mbeki's political descent began at the Polokwane conference in 2007, and that he was subsequently recalled by the ANC.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — His political descent began at the ANC's Polokwane conference in December 2007, when he was replaced as ANC president by Zuma. Although his term as national president was not due to expire until June …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thabo_Mbeki

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The ANC recalled Mbeki in 2008 ,eight months after he lost Zuma at the contentious ANC Polokwane elective conference which led to a split in the governing party, and the formation of opposition party …
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/malema-refutes-zumas-claim…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — South African President Thabo Mbeki has agreed to resign after the ANC announced that it would remove him from office before the end of his term.”Replacing President Mbeki with a Zuma proxy will open …
https://mg.co.za/article/2008-09-20-anc-recalls-mbeki/

schedule

Claim 4: “The two bear most of the responsibility for leading the country astray.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 5: “In October 2011, Zuma appointed the ill-fated Seriti commission, clearly designed to put to bed allegations of corruption in the arms deal.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Zuma appointed a commission regarding the arms deal in 2011.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — On 24 October 2011, President Zuma announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry tasked with allegations of fraud, corruption, impropriety and irregularity in the 1999 Strategic Defence Procu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Seriti

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Background Background Terry Crawford-Brown petitioned the Constitutional Court in 2011 to compel former president Jacob Zuma to establish a commission of inquiry into the procurement packages and alle…
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/seriti-commission

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — It is my honour and privilege to announce the terms of reference and the Regulations for the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of fraud, corruption, impropriety or irregularity in the Strategic D…
https://www.justice.gov.za/comm-sdpp/index.html

schedule

Claim 6: “His cockeyed views on Aids sent hundreds of innocent lives to an early grave.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 7: “The two have now filed for leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results indicate that Zuma and Mbeki have taken legal action regarding the matter, including appeals to higher courts, confirming the general context of appeals following the high court's decision.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Constitutional Court of South Africa is the supreme constitutional court established by the Constitution of South Africa, and is the apex court in the South African judicial system, with general j…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Court_of_South_…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (Zulu: [geɮʱejiɬeˈkisa ˈzʱuma]; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Zuma

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 8: “Mbeki and Zuma fell out most spectacularly at the ANC Polokwane conference in 2007 when Mbeki suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Zuma.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Mbeki and Zuma had a major falling out, with one source specifically citing the Polokwane conference where Mbeki was defeated by Zuma.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, is currently facing criminal charges relating to alleged corruption in the 1999 Arms Deal. He was first indicted on the charges in June 2005, but atte…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Zuma_corruption_charges

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 9: “His porous borders created social problems that will take years to sort out.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 10: “Thankfully, the high court threw out the challenge, noting that Khampepe’s previous roles were not in conflict with the commission’s mandate.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists only of general dictionary definitions for the word 'high' and does not contain any reports from the high court dismissing the challenge or ruling on Khampepe's previous roles. Therefore, the claim cannot be verified or refuted with the evidence provided.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — high implies marked extension upward and is applied chiefly to things which rise from a base or foundation or are placed at a conspicuous height above a lower level.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/high

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Define high. high synonyms, high pronunciation, high translation, English dictionary definition of high. adj. high·er , high·est 1. a. Having a relatively great elevation; extending far upward: a high…
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/high

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Definition of high adjective in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/americ…

check_circle

Claim 11: “Mbeki and Zuma went to the Gauteng High Court demanding that Khampepe step down as chair of the commission, citing as reasons the fact that she worked as deputy director of the National Prosecuting Authority before getting involved in the ground-breaking Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which, they contended, created a perception of bias.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Zuma and Mbeki challenged Khampepe's refusal to recuse herself in the Gauteng High Court. The claims regarding the basis of the challenge (bias due to prior roles at NPA/TRC) are detailed in the search snippets.

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 12: “Early in his presidency, Mandela was dragged to court by Louis Luyt and willingly cooperated despite misgivings by some of his advisers.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 13: “The commission’s findings were later set aside by the high court, leaving judge Willie Seriti with egg all over his face.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Although the context involves the Seriti commission, no evidence was gathered in the search results or Wikipedia entries that state the high court set aside the commission's findings.

check_circle

Claim 14: “Zuma’s gripe with Khampepe, of course, goes much further. She delivered the Constitutional Court judgment sentencing Zuma to 15 months’ imprisonment for refusing to give evidence to the Zondo commission in 2021.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the Constitutional Court sentenced Zuma to 15 months' imprisonment for refusing to testify before the Zondo Commission.

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.