The State Capture Inquiry has been granted a fifth extension, giving the team another three months to complete three years’ work.

The plea by Acting Chief Justice and chair of the commission, Raymond Zondo, for yet another lifeline for the process was awarded in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) yesterday.

A BusinessLIVE report says Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela granted the extension and handed down an order moving the deadline by which it is ‘required to complete its work’ from 30 September to 31 December.

Maumela’s order indicates that President Cyril Ramaphosa must take the necessary steps to gazette the new time frame.

‘There is no order as to costs,’ said Maumela.

The inquiry’s total spend is understood to be in excess of R1bn, and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola approached the court to intervene in the latest extension bid over concerns about the public purse.

However, Lamola withdrew his opposition at the eleventh hour.

Maumela heard from the inquiry’s legal representative, along with that for the Council for the Advancement of the SA constitution (Casac).

Dan Mafora, Casac’s research officer, was unhappy with Lamola’s U-turn.

‘I think it’s a shame that he withdrew the application because there are questions that would have had to be answered by the commission … Zondo’s application doesn’t really say what is going on,’ he said.

The chair’s submission does include mention of first drafts and second drafts of the final submission.

‘He doesn’t explain why he has failed by this stage to compile a report,’ said Mafora.

The latest concession is the fifth such order from the High Court and Mafora says this must be the last time the process’ end is pushed out.

Full BusinessLIVE report