Opening submissions by witnesses and an appeal for the protection of journalists’ sources will kick off on Wednesday’s public hearings of the Hefer commission in Bloemfontein.
Commission assistant-secretary Solly Ngwenya said former Sunday Times political reporter Ranjeni Munusamy, African National Congress veteran Mac Maharaj and former ANC intelligence operative Mo Shaik were the main witnesses so far.
Their lawyers would make opening submissions and representations on Wednesday, before main testimony was expected to start on Thursday.
Retired chief justice Joos Hefer would also hear a submission on behalf of the SA National Editor’s Forum (Sanef) on Wednesday, Ngwenya said.
According to news reports, journalist Raymond Louw would argue that journalists should not give evidence before such a commission. The judicial commission was set up by President Thabo Mbeki, originally to investigate allegations that national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka was an apartheid spy.
Its terms of reference were later extended to an investigation into whether Ngcuka or his political boss, Justice Minister Penuell Maduna, had abused the national prosecuting authority.
The hearings will take place amid rumours of bitter in-fighting within the ANC. The spying allegations against Ngcuka surfaced shortly after he announced that his Scorpions investigating unit had assembled a prima facie case against Deputy President Jacob Zuma. It related to alleged bribery of R500 000 connected to the country’s controversial multi-billion rand arms deal.
The spying allegations were revealed in a report published in the City Press and mainly authored by Munusamy. It was publicly backed by Maharaj.
Mo Shaik is the brother of Shabir, Zuma’s financial adviser who was charged on some of the allegations linked to the deputy president.
Last week mining magnate Brett Kebble, who was investigated by the Scorpions for alleged fraud, entered the fray by publicly accusing Ngcuka of pursuing a private agenda.
The Democratic Alliance has called on Zuma to testify before the commission. The investigation would be incomplete without his evidence, justice spokesperson Sheila Camerer said.
However, the commission has not indicated so far that Zuma will be called as a witness. – Sapa