Bloemfontein - Mo Shaik paid a former apartheid security branch member to help prove National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka guilty of spying for the apartheid government.

The Hefer Commission in Bloemfontein on Monday heard that Shaik, a former ANC intelligence operative, paid Gideon Nieuwoudt R40 000 to render his assistance, SABC reported on Monday.

Shaik said he requested Nieuwoudt's help to assist with proving that Ngcuka was an apartheid spy. The money was made available for Nieuwoudt's flights and legal costs.

Nieuwoudt, a former colonel and head of the apartheid-era security police in Port Elizabeth, admitted in 1997 before the TRC that he helped kill the Pebco Three in 1985. He also allegedly participated in the killing of activist Steve Biko.

The TRC turned down his amnesty application for not fully disclosing all his crimes.

Former transport minister Mac Maharaj earlier revealed before the Hefer Commission that Nieuwoudt was one of three former security branch officers who had confirmed spying allegations against Ngcuka in television interviews.

Former transport minister Mac Maharaj revealed before the Hefer Commission on Thursday that Nieuwoudt was one of three former security branch officers who had confirmed spying allegations against Ngcuka in television interviews. During this process, Maharaj again faced Nieuwoudt - one of the veteran liberation fighter's interrogators when the security branch arrested him in 1990.

The interviews were conducted for an e-tv programme that was screened on September 16 on allegations that Ngcuka acted as an agent for the apartheid government.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and www.news24.co.za.