Day 1: Former transport minister Mac Maharaj and former ANC intelligence unit commander Mo Shaik ask for a month's postponement before giving evidence. Their application is successful.

Day 2: Former Sunday Times journalist Ranjeni Munusamy asks the commission to excuse her from giving evidence. Her application is not successful but she takes it on review - only to lose.

Day 3, 4 and 5: The commission starts the wrong way round (accused before accusers) due to logistical problems. Ngcuka's friends and comrades and advocate Glen Goosen testify that he was not an apartheid spy. Former human rights lawyer Vanessa Brereton admits to being agent RS452 - a codename previously claimed to be Ngcuka's.

Day 6: Advocate George Bizos SC tells the commission it can expect no special treatment from the intelligence agencies. It will have to apply for information according to legally prescribed rules.

Day 7: Counsel for the commission, Ngcuka and the minister of justice ask Judge Joos Hefer to issue subpoenas to obtain the information the commission needs.

Day 8: Bizos returns to Bloemfontein to tell the commission about the spy agencies' problems with the subpoenas. Hefer sets aside the subpoenas for the time being.

Day 9, 10 and 11: Maharaj takes the stand.

Day 12: Mo Shaik starts evidence.

Day 13: Shaik continues evidence and implicates Deputy President Jacob Zuma in the process.

With acknowledgement to The Star.