Cape Town - The Hefer Commission will start hearing evidence Monday to determine whether the national director of public prosecution, Bulelani Ngcuka, was a spy for the apartheid government.

John Bacon, secretary of the commission under former judge Joos Hefer, said on Monday the commission was in contact with possible witnesses and that the testimony process would probably start in the Bloemfontein Appeal Court next Monday.

Bacon said it was difficult to say when a final report could be expected and whether an interim report would be necessary.

The commission should report to President Thabo Mbeki within a month of its appointment or as soon as possible thereafter.

Minister of justice, Penuell Maduna, has appointed advocate Kessie Naidu to lead the testimony process.

Naidu apparently assisted deputy president Jacob Zuma in his recent question-and-answer session with the Scorpions and has also represented Maduna before.

Some opposition parties expressed concerns that Naidu's appointment could lead to a conflict of interest, but the justice department dismissed this because Naidu is not representing Zuma or Maduna at present.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Rudolf Mastenbroek, said Ngcuka's office had no objections to Naidu's appointment.

With acknowledgements to Willem Jordaan and Die Burger.