The list of names of witnesses to be called to testify at a parliamentary inquiry into state capture at South Africa’s sole power utility, Eskom, has been finalised and the probe officially kicks off on October 17, a statement from the national legislature said on Wednesday.

“The Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises today [Wednesday] met in a closed meeting to discuss the inquiry process on Eskom with the evidence leader,” the statement said.

The first witness would be called next week Tuesday.

“The Committee has decided that the names of the witnesses will not be publicised for security reasons,” the statement read.

“The Committee is busy with the process of interacting with the witnesses to give them enough time to prepare for the inquiry.”

The committee had however decided the testimony at the inquiry would be given in public.

The inquiry will look into among others, Eskom’s awarding of lucrative contracts worth billions of rand to companies linked to the Gupta family, who are friends of President Jacob Zuma, and allegations of impropriety against various Eskom managers.