Johannesburg – Former Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas is one of the first witnesses to appear on Monday at the beginning of the Inquiry Committee for State Detention.
Other witnesses include; former GCIS head Themba Maseko, former minister Vytjie Mentor, Phumla Williams of GCIS and official of the Treasury Ndleleni Willie Mathebula.
The long-awaited state inventory investigation starts on Monday.
The committee, led by deputy chief judge Raymond Zondo, said that there were other witnesses who will be called to testify, but consultation procedures were still in progress.
The investigation was appointed in January, one year after the introduction of State Capture report by former public protector Thuli Madonsela, by former president Jacob Zuma.
Madonsela's report had recommended that the investigation be commissioned to investigate allegations of state prison involving the infamous Gupta family, government officials, and state-owned enterprises.
Madonsela had said that Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng should appoint the chairperson of the investigation, but Zuma had taken legal action against this recommendation and claimed that he was the person legally obliged to investigate and chair.
The study recently received an extension of two years, from the original 180 days, for competition.
Researchers assigned to the committee will continue their work while the committee is underway.
The committee will be held in public, but in case of special circumstances witnesses will be allowed to testify privately.
"The lawsuit is not that of a court, this is not a lawsuit, but an investigation into allegations," Zondo said in July.
Zondo will open the proceedings on Monday, while lawyer Pretorius SC will make a statement on behalf of the legal team and lawyer Thandi Norman SC will present the reports.
IOL
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