Bloemfontein - Witnesses are generally coached not to be argumentative. There is a good reason for this. Counsel almost never ask a question to which they do not know the answer.

This advice seemed to have passed by former transport minister, Mac Maharaj. On the ninth day of the Hefer Commission, he demonstrated that he might be one of the most argumentative men on the planet.

It also seemed that each question had to be put to him three times before he would answer.

"Why is getting an answer from you like extracting teeth?" evidence leader Kessie Naidu SC asked.

"In my life I have been used to people doing that without anaesthetic," Maharaj replied.

After hours of cross-examination, during which tempers flared, he had Norman Arendse SC on the brink of desperation.

"We are going to sit here for longer than we should because you never answer a question directly," complained Arendse.

True to form, Maharaj said: "I hope you are not using the word 'never' in its absolute form."

In response to an admonition from Judge Hefer, Maharaj said: "Because my answer does not suit counsel, he cannot say I am not answering the question."

Cross-examined on whether he had asked journalist Ranjeni Munusamy where she found information, Maharaj responded: "You know how journalists are. They fish. They do not let you catch them."

Maharaj was not the only one working on the nerves of some members of the commission.

Naidu asked Judge Hefer to request Mo Shaik not to disturb him. "You will get your chance," Judge Hefer said to Shaik.

"I can't wait," Shaik replied.

In fairness to Maharaj, he acknowledged his modus operandi with journalists and lawyers. Responding to a question from Naidu he noted: "If you ask questions, it saves you the trouble of answering questions. I am trying it with you. It didn't work."

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis, Jeremy Gordin and the Cape Times.