Public hearings on the probe into the R50 billion arms procurement deal are to get under way in the Pretoria High Court at 10am on Monday.

Public Protector Selby Baqwa is expected to begin the proceedings with the opening address.

The hearings will be led by a core panel of three, chaired by Baqwa. The other two panel members will come from the offices of Auditor-General Shauket Fakie, and National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka.

Baqwa, Fakie and Ngcuka are probing between 40 and 50 allegations of wrongdoing in the arms deal at the request of parliament’s watchdog public accounts committee.

Monday's hearings are likely to be kicked off with evidence on events leading up to the awarding of the arms deals.

The evidence will be led by Baqwa and an advocate in his office, Stoffel Fourie. They will be assisted by two officials from the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

It is also expected that some of the parties involved will push for a postponement on Monday, to arrange proper legal representation.

The hearings, scheduled to continue for two months, will be concluded by a panel summarising evidence to be incorporated into the investigation report. 

With acknowledgment to Sapa and Business Day.