The second sitting of an investigation into the conduct that led to the suspension of controversial Defence Department arms procurement chief Shamin "Chippy" Shaik, will take place tomorrow.

Defence Ministry spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said yesterday the inquiry, headed by Department of Provincial and Local Government director-general Zam Titus, got under way on December 28.

He did not say what charges had been put to Shaik, but said: "The statement released by (Defence) Minister (Mosioua) Lekota when he suspended Mr Shaik in November still stands".

Lekota suspended Shaik on November 19 for allegedly disclosing confidential information to unauthorised recipients, without authorisation and in violation of the Defence Act.

"Mr Shaik... will not be allowed to enter any military installation, office or the headquarters of the Department of Defence," Lekota told reporters in Pretoria at the time.

Shaik was also barred from having contact with officials dealing with arms procurement.

Lekota said the alleged transgression was committed between October 1 and November 1 last year.

Shaik was suspended with full pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

A disciplinary hearing at which charges would be put to Shaik and where he would be able to defend his conduct, as required by the Labour Relations Act, would only be held once the investigation was finalised, Mkhwanazi said yesterday.

In terms of labour law practice, employees can only be suspended in the most serious of cases and then only with full benefits. Employers otherwise run the risk of being accused of unfair suspension. - Sapa