Former City Press editor Vusi Mona has until Friday to convince the Hefer Commission not to lay a charge of perjury against him.

Evidence leader advocate Kessie Naidu told the commission on Monday morning that he was "giving Vusi Mona notice that he must persuade me not to hand the transcript of his evidence to the national director of public prosecutions to have him charged for perjury".

Naidu's words followed a statement issued by City Press this weekend that Mona had sent the newspaper a copy of his notes about an off-the-record briefing between National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka and a group of black editors.

Mona repeatedly denied under cross-examination that he gave a copy of notes, taken at the briefing, to City Press.

On Friday, Naidu pointed out to him that there were "remarkable similarities" in the "turns of phrase" used by Mona in his complaint about the briefing to the public protector and the "document" published by City Press, which was signed "concerned citizen".

"Are you the author of this document?" Naidu asked Mona. "And I want you to be candid with the commission."

"No, I am not," Mona said.

"What a great coincidence," Naidu said, pointing out that the series of events discussed followed the same order.

"Explain this to me. Let me help you, Mr Mona. It points to you being the author and distributor of this document."

Mona then said that it could have been written by public relations agent Dominque Ncele, as he had discussed it with him.

Naidu was not convinced.

"I am suggesting to you that you are hiding something. And if you are, come out with it," he said.

In September this year, City Press published an article detailing what happened at the briefing. The article included a racial slur attributed to Ngcuka.

City Press on Sunday said Mona sent the newspaper a copy of his notes taken at the briefing.

It also said not all senior staff supported Mona, even though he claimed that he had support for publishing his version of the details of the briefing.

Naidu today also asked Judge Joos Hefer to "exercise his discretion" and call former Sunday Times journalist Ranjeni Munusamy to give evidence.

On Friday Judge Hefer expressed his doubts about whether it would be necessary to do so.

Munusamy took an earlier decision by Judge Hefer that she must give evidence on review to the Bloemfontein High Court.

She lost. Her application for leave to appeal is due to be heard by that court on Friday.

Sapa reports that City Press' acting editor Wally Mbhele said in the front-page apology evidence before the Hefer Commission had left little doubt that there is no credible substance to reports suggesting that he was or could have been an apartheid spy.

"The reports were based on information from seemingly credible sources and documents that, at the time, appeared to support the allegations concerning Ngcuka.

"Since then - after a full, exhaustive and ongoing investigation by the Hefer Commission, and from information that has surfaced from reluctant witnesses - it has become apparent that the information given to City Press at the time of publication was devoid of truth, contrived and misleading," Mbhele added.

"In view of what has since transpired, as well as the admission to the Hefer Commission of 'reckless' editorial management of the material by former City Press editor Vusi Mona, City Press retracts the relevant news reports and editorial comment.

"We apologise unreservedly to Ngcuka and his office, the National Director of Public Prosecutions."

Mbhele further said City Press was a proud newspaper with a rich history and tradition of acting in the public interest.

City Press, Mbhele explained, does not tolerate being "used" or compromised, as has been the case in this instance.

"We recognise that the dignity and reputation of Ngcuka and his office have been harmed by the inaccuracy and untruthfulness of reports that he may have been a spy for the apartheid government.

"We admit that we erred and accordingly offer our sincere apologies to Ngcuka in his personal and professional capacity."

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and The Star.