Public hearings in the probe into the country's R43 billion arms procurement deal are to get underway in the Pretoria High Court at 10am on Monday. The proceedings would start with an opening statement by Public Protector Selby Baqwa, his spokeswoman, Nicolette Teichmann, said on Friday.

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.

Teichmann on Friday said the hearings would kick off with evidence on events leading up to the awarding of the arms contracts. "One could describe this as the scene-setting phase. At this stage I cannot say who will be testifying."

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

Teichmann said that her office was aware that some of the parties involved would push for a postponement of the hearings on Monday.

"They apparently intend asking for more time in order to arrange proper legal representation for themselves. The outcome of such requests would obviously be determined on merit," Teichmann said.

The three investigating agencies earlier said that the hearings would only deal with facets of allegations that would not compromise the criminal and forensic aspects of the investigation. They described the hearings as complimentary to a forensic investigation.

"Careful consideration is being given to ensure that only those aspects of the allegations that will not compromise the forensic and criminal investigation are heard in public."

A team of about 30 members from the three agencies and a number of experts contracted from outside are handling the criminal and forensic probe.

The hearings, scheduled to continue for two months, will be concluded by the panel summarising evidence to be incorporated into the investigation report. Exact details of the allegations under investigation would only be provided when this report was finalised, the agencies said.

"Confidentiality is being maintained to protect witnesses and the integrity of the information under investigation."

The agencies added that there was likely to be an interval between the completion of the hearings and the presentation of their findings.

With acknowledgment to Sapa and Business Day.