The Hefer Commission of Inquiry into espionage claims against National Prosecutions Director Bulelani Ngcuka has subpoenaed 18 people who represent institutions that can help to prove or disprove the allegations.

The commission's leader of evidence, Kessie Naidu, yesterday said the subpoenas were still in the process of being served and it was only when the commission received an acknowledgement of receipt that the identity of those called would be released.

It is understood that those who have been subpoenaed include the head of the National Intelligence Agency, South African Secret Service, defence intelligence, the commissioner of the South African Police Service, and journalists.

This follows a breakdown in negotiations between the commission and the country's intelligence agencies over access to classified documents that could help the commission in its investigation.

The intelligence agencies are refusing to release the documents, saying legislation governing them prevented them from doing so.

The commission resumes its hearings next Wednesday. On November 17, Ngcuka's main accusers, Mac Maharaj and Mo Shaik, are due to testify.

The two have also been subpoenaed to produce documents related to the probe. Shaik recently waved documents on TV purporting to support the claim that Ngcuka was an apartheid spy.

Their case fell apart when a former Eastern Cape human rights lawyer confessed to being Agent RS452, and not Ngcuka as previously thought.

Witness after witness, who knew and worked with Ngcuka in the 1980s, dismissed claims that he was a spy or had sold people out to the apartheid regime.

Naidu also said judgment in the case of former Sunday Times journalist Ranjeni Munusamy in the Bloemfontein High Court challenging retired judge Joos Hefer's decision to order her to testify at the commission was reserved until next week. The commission would then respond to the judgment.

Munusamy co-authored a news story about Ngcuka having being investigated by the African National Congress in the 1980s for being suspected of being an apartheid spy.

With acknowledgements to Xolani Xundu and the Business Day.