So, when do you drive all the way to Bloemfontein to stand by your man at the Hefer commission and when do you stay at home, put up your heels and watch The Spy Who Loved Me?

On Wednesday this week Mac Maharaj and Mo Shaik deemed it sufficiently exciting to drive down to Bloemfontein to watch former City Press editor and public relations trainee Vusi Mona try to outwit the Hefer commission.

But by Thursday, when he came under sustained fire from evidence leader Kessie Naidu, Mac and Mo were nowhere to be seen.

The loneliness of the long-distance witness was palpable.

With acknowledgements to Hogarth and the Sunday Times.