The judge presiding over Jacob Zuma's application against the Scorpions for the return of documents seized in raids last year, had to intervene yesterday in a dispute between journalists and Zuma's security personnel over who could go into court.

After moving the hearing to a bigger court room, Durban High Court Judge Noel Hurt said "attempts to filter who attends court did not emanate from this court. This court sits with its doors open".

Zuma has attended the two- day hearing, sitting with his lawyer Michael Hulley in the front of the courtroom.

However, the public gallery seating has been restricted.

The passage leading to the courtroom has been guarded by VIP protection unit members who handed out access cards, allocating five to journalists.

The rest, about 20 seats, went to "relatives and other lawyers".

On Monday, several journalists spent most of the morning outside. They were allowed in later when it became apparent that not all the seats were full.

Yesterday, journalists got access on a first-come, first-served basis.

A lawyer acting for one of the reporters contacted the judge to complain and Zuma's security head was called into chambers.

The hearing was moved to a larger courtroom and all access restrictions, including the cards, were dispensed with.

This is not the first time journalists have had problems covering Zuma's court appearance.

At his first appearance in the Durban Magistrate's Court on corruption charges, numbers were limited.

Then journalists were barred from his appearance in Johannesburg on the rape charge.

Judgment in the application for the return of the documents seized in August's Scorpions raids on Zuma's homes and offices and the office of his Durban-based lawyer Michael Hulley is expected next Wednesday.

Should the state lose the case, and the judge set aside the search and seizure warrants and order the return of the documents, it would mean Zuma can only be charged with corruption relating to events before 2002.

With acknowledgements to Tania Broughton and the Cape Times.