Johannesburg - The judicial commission of inquiry investigating allegations of State Capture will start public hearings on August 20.
Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo made the announcement on Friday.
On Tuesday, the High Court granted the inquiry a two-year extension for the completion of the inquiry from the original period of 180 days.
Zondo had stated that it was doubtful that the inquiry could complete its work within a short period.
Investigators assigned to the commission will continue with their work while the commission is underway.
The commission will be held in public, but in case of special circumstances witnesses will be allowed to testify in private.
"The proceedings are not those of a court of law. This is not a litigation, it is an inquiry into allegations," said Zondo.
The deputy chief justice said once implicated persons are sent requests for submissions, they will be required to give substantiated explanations and not only just denial.
The inquiry was appointed by former president Jacob Zuma in January, a year after the release of State Capture report by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.
Madonsela's report had recommended that the inquiry be set up to probe allegations of State capture involving the notorious Gupta family, government officials and state-owned enterprises.
Madonsela had stated that the Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng be the one to appoint the chair of the inquiry, but Zuma had took legal action against this recommendation stating that he was the one who was legally mandated to appoint an inquiry and its chair.