Thirty-six people lost their lives in the area, north of Durban, in alleged acts of vigilantism.
Commissioner Andre Gaum on Friday outlined the scope of the hearings set to take place in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng from Monday.
The two provinces were the most affected by the riots.
Gaum says a three-member panel which includes himself, will look into the causes of the unrest.

"Secondly, the causes of the alleged racially motivated attacks and killings following the unrest.

"Third, the causes of the apparent lapses in law enforcement by state security agencies, particularly the South African Police Service and the role of private security companies in the unrest and fourth, the social, economic, spatial and political factors prevalent to the various affected areas."

Source: East Coast Radio