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Open
ing submissions by witnesses and an appeal for the protection
of journalistic sources will kick off today's public hearings of
the Hefer Commission in Bloemfontein.
Commission assistant secretary Solly Ngwenya said former Sunday
Times writer 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
today, before main testimony was expected to start tomorrow.
Retired chief justice Joos Hefer would also hear a submission on
behalf of the SA National Editor's Forum (Sanef) today, 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
spokeswoman Sheila Camerer said.
However, the commission has not indicated so far that Zuma will be
called as a witness. – Sapa.
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