Justice Edwin King, who will head the commission of inquiry into the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal, says he wants to conduct his probe in public because of the importance of the issues involved.
Judge King, 70, who retired two weeks ago as judge president of the Western Cape, said although he had not received his terms of reference, he believed the only way to get to the truth was to hold an open inquiry and enlist the help of as many people as possible.
"Certainly my own inclination is to have an open inquiry on a matter of public importance such as this. Justice must be seen to be done," said King, who described himself as a cricket lover who played the game as a schoolboy and had followed it keenly ever since.
Judge King's appointment was announced on Thursday by Justice and Sports ministers Penuell Maduna and Ngconde Balfour.
Maduna confirmed that the commission, which he hoped would begin work on Monday, would be public, but said that Judge King had the right to hear evidence in camera if he so chose.
Maduna said the commission must wind up business by the end of June, although he hoped it would have a lifespan of only a month. The commission would comprise a maximum of five people, including King and Shamila Batohi, who will lead evidence.
The joint announcement comes nearly a month after Cronje admitted to providing match information to bookmakers in return for money.
