IRENE - The commission set up to investigate the controversial arms deal confirmed on Saturday it has completed the first phase of its investigation and had analysed more than four million documents.

The commission also announced its plans for the second phase of the investigation, which will entail public hearings with people who have been implicated in the deal.

Commission Head Judge Willie Seriti said, almost all government entities asked for submissions on their role in the arms deal had complied.

Seriti said he was disappointed by the number of submissions received from the public.

“The response to the call for public submission was disappointingly poor *1.

“We received only seven submissions.”

Some of the people who submitted to the commission are Patricia de Lille, arms deal activists Terry Crawford Brown and Democratic Alliance’s David Maynier.

They are all expected to appear before the commission when the public hearings start next year.

(Edited by Clare Matthes)

With acknowledgement to Govan Whittles and Eye Witness News.