Durban - Officials at the Durban High Court have limited the number of reporters covering the Schabir Shaik fraud trial to two journalists per media organisation.

This follows an earlier request that journalists complete accreditation forms.

Sapa's reporter at the court said media organisations could change their journalists during the trial as long as they did not send more than two.

Meanwhile, Judge Hillary Squires arrived at the court for the trial that would begin with the court dropping charges against arms company Thint.

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions agreed to drop the charges in return for a statement by Thint director Alain Thetard confirming he was the author of a note which the Scorpions believe show deputy president Jacob Zuma was to be bribed.

The State will reportedly seek leave to add another company from the Shaik stable, Chartley Investments, to the indictment.

An application by e.tv and the SABC for permission to broadcast the proceedings live would then be considered.

The proceedings were only expected to focus on Shaik on Wednesday.

In an indictment shot through with references to Zuma, the State alleges Shaik made improper payments totalling R1.25m benefiting the deputy president between 1995 and 2002 and that he arranged for Zuma to receive R500 000 a year from a French arms manufacturer in return for protection against a probe into arms deal corruption.

With acknowledgements to Tisha Steyn, Sapa and News24.