The first in-court television coverage of high court proceedings got a judicial thumbs-up at the Thatcher hearing on Wednesday.

A full bench of the Cape High Court last month granted an SABC application to film, for delayed broadcast, Mark Thatcher's court battle to avoid questioning by Equatorial Guinea authorities.

Judge Deon van Zyl and his colleagues Essa Moosa and Daniel Dlodlo made the concession despite opposition from the State's advocate Michael Donen.

Three cameras, one fixed and two manned, were placed in the courtroom for the three days that Thatcher's case was argued, and for judgment on Wednesday.

Delivering their findings -- which went against Thatcher -- the judges said that despite Donen's misgivings, the filming did not disrupt proceedings "while the televised highlights package appear to have constituted a balanced and fair reflection of such proceedings".

In October, Judge Hillary Squires turned down an e.tv bid to film Schabir Shaik's corruption trial in the Durban High Court, but did leave the door open for a television presence in the closing stages of the trial.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.