The concept of a "false flag" in which data from more than one spy are reported as if they were from one person was given some support yesterday at the Hefer commission , by lawyer Krish Naidoo.

The "false flag" concept is central to the argument of former transport minister Mac Maharaj and former intelligence officer Mo Shaik, who have alleged that Scorpions chief Bulelani Ngcuka might have been an apartheid spy.

However, Naidoo said he did not believe Ngcuka was the alternate source behind former Eastern Cape human rights lawyer Vanessa Brereton, who has admitted she was the spy known as RS452.

Brereton was Naidoo's partner in a law firm during the time she was also working for the police security branch.

Naidoo was asked about a new set of intelligence reports handed into the commission last week, one of which dealt with various activities he was involved in, in 1987.

He said although the report also purported to be based on evidence supplied by RS452, it was different in style and content from other intelligence reports supplied by her handler, Karl Edwards.

The report was wide- ranging in content and included some information which was unlikely and factually incorrect. The report quotes a friend of Naidoo, Preema Naidoo, as saying there were "divisive elements" in the anti-apartheid struggle, including a group of "Trotskyites and drug addicts".

The report also states Preema Naidoo "is particularly against white academics and their role in the struggle".

"He said it is important to generate true working class leadership and it is not necessary to rely on white academics who are totally out of touch with the working class."

Naidoo said it was very unlikely his friend would speak in this way, and it was not the kind of information Brereton would have been party to.

"I don't believe these reports emanate from the same person," he said.

With acknowledgements to Tim Cohen and Business Day.