On Wednesday morning police fired teargas when scuffles broke out as mainly African National Congress supporters demanded entry into the already packed city hall.
At 3pm Inkatha Freedom Party supporters were crushed as they tried to force their way through with the arrival of their midlands leader David Ntombela.
Ntombela, his wife, and IFP MPL Philip Powell entered the side entrance of the hall and were whisked away by bodyguards while their supporters chanted outside.
Police forced the gates closed while about 100 IFP supporters surged against them, almost crushing a supporter caught between the steel doors.
The city hall buzzed in anticipation as mainly IFP supporters took their seats in the gallery while police scrambled around making contingency security plans.
The ANC's safety and security spokesman, Bheki Cele, and ANC midlands leader Sifiso Nkabinde negotiated with police over a possible security risk.
Authorities were concerned that the 100-odd IFP supporters who had shoved their way into the auditorium had not passed through metal detectors, nor had they been searched like everyone else.
Ntombela's arrival ended a day of speculation over whether he would testify before the commission as promised after it heard two days of damning allegations against the midlands warlord.
Several witnesses to the 1990 so-called seven-day war testified how Ntombela had fomented much of the violence which claimed the lives of at least 80 people and left thousands displaced.
Reporters were told on Wednesday morning that Ntombela had declined to testify, but this was later denied by Powell.