Bloemfontein - The Hefer Commission of Inquiry may issue its first interim report this week on the spy allegations against the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka.

The report would follow the wrapping-up of evidence given by former transport minister Mac Maharaj and former ANC intelligence commander Mo Shaik.

Maharaj and Shaik were branded as accusers after they made public statements supporting a City Press report that said Ngcuka had been investigated as a suspected apartheid spy.

President Thabo Mbeki appointed the commission, chaired by retired acting chief justice Judge Joos Hefer, after the report appeared in September. Mbeki asked that the commission report to him "within a month or as soon as possible".

Because of severe logistical problems, however, the main issue before the commission - the allegations made and supported by Maharaj and Shaik - was not dealt with until last week.

There are indications that Ngcuka's legal team, led by advocate Marumo Moerane, SC, is to ask for a first report from the commission this week.

There are, however, several questions that remain to be answered:

What was Deputy President Jacob Zuma's role in the spy saga?

Shaik acknowledged that he was fighting for Zuma's honour.

He also admitted he had told then-Sunday Times journalist Ranjeni Munusamy that the ANC intelligence unit's alleged spy investigation of 1989 was the source of the animosity between Ngcuka and Zuma.

He asked the commission to call Zuma to confirm his evidence. He said Zuma knew about the intelligence he gathered on 888 agents during the apartheid years.

Why did the Minister of Justice, Penuell Maduna, ask Shaik as long ago as 2001 if ANC intelligence had investigated the possibility that Ngcuka was a spy? Maduna had been omitted from the commission's new terms of reference, which keep the focus on Shaik and Maharaj's evidence. His counsel, Norman Arendse, SC, however, has received permission to remain at the commission and cross-examine witnesses.

How did the spy investigation story reach Munusamy? Shaik says he did not tell her about it, although he gave her many documents.

She told Maharaj she had heard about it from a "reputable source".

What was said at Ngcuka's "off-the-record" briefing with the editors?

What was the role of former apartheid security policemen and British secret agents in the spy saga?

With the exception of Shaik, who said he was doing it for Zuma, every witness who has confirmed the spy allegations has been investigated by the Scorpions.

The focus this week will be on the journalists subpoenaed or invited to give evidence.

Munusamy will be noting an appeal against a judgment by the Bloemfontein High Court dismissing her objections to Judge Hefer's ruling that she give evidence.

The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has called for the subpoenas against editors and journalists to be withdrawn, saying they would "undermine the ability of the media to perform its task ... and could set a damaging precedent".

Those called include former Sunday Times editor Mathatha Tsedu, Mail and Guardian editor Mondli Makhanya, City Press journalist Elias Maluleke, head of e.tv news Joe Thloloe and former City Press editor Vusi Mona.

Mona has agreed to testify.

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and the Cape Times.