With reference to the City Press editor's comment dated November 16 and headlined "Hefer inquiry is a presidential blunder and a waste of money", I admit I also regret praising the president for appointing the Hefer commission of inquiry to investigate the allegation that Bulelani Ngcuka was a spy.

President Thabo Mbeki was misled by those who recommended the appointment of the commision. One of those who recommended it was Justice Minister Penuell Maduna. If director-general Frank Chikane's letter to the commision is any thing to go by, or is a true reflection of reality, both ANC administrations - the Mandela administration and the Mbeki administration in which Jacob Zuma is deputy president - alone demonstrate that the ANC leadership blundered in the appointment of Ngcuka as director of national public prosecutions.

Both administrations and the ANC leadership knew of the status of Ngcuka, but the question that remains is whether Bulelani abused his office or not?

I also doubt this question of abuse, which arose following corruption investigations.

If the allegations of spying and abuse of office were raised after investigations of the accusers began, including Zuma, I want to believe Ngcuka will be exonerated and will continue with his job cleared of both allegations. The whole mess must be left with the ANC administration in office and the ANC party leadership outside government.

Obviously Professor Shadrack Gutto was correct and I support his position. The Hefer commission must officially disband with or without conclusive evidence of whether Ngcuka was a spy or not. The abuse allegation was based on media assumptions and I believe it should be thrown out.

The question is who will pay for the whole flawed exercise?

If spies are being investigated, then all spies, publicly known and unknown, must be officially investigated and not Ngcuka alone.

The ANC, on the whole, has abused public office and must resign from government.*

With acknowledgements to Thembalihle Nongayiyana and the City Press.