A veteran ANC leader and former cabinet minister today called for the powers of the national Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka to be radically reduced.

Mac Maharaj, who fired the first shot in the saga that led to the setting up of the Hefer inquiry, said the unrestrained power of Ngcuka's office was dangerous.

Outside the Supreme Court of Appeal where the commission's public hearings were to start today, Maharaj said it was important that South Africa did not allow the office of the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions to have the power of former FBI head J Edgar Hoover's office, which was able to hold 10 US presidents to ransom.

The inquiry was postponed today to allow the main accusers, Maharaj and ANC intelligence operative Mo Shaik, more time to prepare their statements.

The Hefer commission will start its public hearing tomorrow.

It was set up last month by President Thabo Mbeki to investigate claims that Ngcuka was a spy for the apartheid government.

The allegations surfaced after ANC stalwarts Maharaj and Deputy President Jacob Zuma were investigated by the Scorpions for alleged corruption in the arms deal and other government contracts.

Last week the terms of reference of the commission were extended to include a probe into the alleged abuse of the office of the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Maharaj said he was not asking for a witch hunt.

"I have been very clear, saying that anybody who is misusing our institutions and endangering democracy and stability should be held accountable," said Maharaj.

"I said repeatedly to the media that there is great concern about the abuses happening in this office of the NDPP."

Maharaj said the office of the NDPP was crucial to the South African democracy.

Ngcuka's spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said this was the day of reckoning.

"I hope there will be no delay tactics (by lawyers)," Ngwema said.

"We need to get to the bottom of the facts and then go back to allow us to do our work."

Ngwema compared the past month to a honeymoon period for Maharaj and Mo Shaik.

"I hope that they've enjoyed it while it lasted," he said.

He emphasised that this saga was about the rule of law - those who have brushes with the law - and not about the stand-off between Ngcuka and Zuma.

"People must be reminded that South Africa is a country of laws which apply equally to all of us. This thing should not be allowed to happen again."

Ngcuka did not attend the session today but Ngwema and his counsel, Advocate Marumo Moerane SC, were present. Shaik and Maharaj arrived about 10 minutes before the commission was to start.

The court was filled with TV cameras, members of the media and legal representatives. Judge Joos Hefer did not sit on the court bench but instead sat level with the other members of the commission.

Neither Moerane nor Advocate Norman Arendse SC for Justice Minister Penuell Maduna opposed an application to postpone the evidence of Maharaj and Shaik until their statements have been taken.

Both said their clients wanted the inquiry finalised as soon as possible.

Judge Hefer expressed the hope that the two main accusers in the spy drama would be able to give their evidence by next week.

The commission adjourned after a seven minute session.

With acknowledgement to The Star.