The resignation of Judge Francis Legodi is a serious setback for the Arms Procurement Commission.

President Jacob Zuma, appointed the Commission, under Judge Willie Seriti, to investigate the arms deal in 2011.

However, since then the Commission has suffered several serious setbacks including:

the resignation of senior investigator Norman Moabi;

the resignation of law researcher Kate Painting; and

delays resulting in a possible extension in the lifespan of the Commission.

The resignation of Judge Legodi is therefore the latest setback in a series of setbacks that have plagued the Commission.

With days to go before the public hearings are set to begin, it is imperative that Judge Willie Seriti act to restore public trust in the Commission.

The place to begin may be for the Commission to make public an interim report on its work.

The interim report should clearly set out what is being done to overcome the challenges facing the Commission.

The Commission is required to provide interim reports on its work to President Jacob Zuma.

There is no reason why these interim reports - or a consolidated version of these interim reports - cannot be made public.

David Maynier, Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans