Bloemfontein : The Supreme Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on an application by the SABC to broadcast the hearing of Durban businessman Schabir Shaik's appeal.

The public broadcaster wants to record and broadcast the five-day appeal hearing on radio and television.

Alternatively the SABC wants to record the hearing for delayed broadcasts of edited highlights on news bulletins and news-related programmes.

"We submit that it would not be a hindrance or (would) have little effect," Brian Pincus, counsel for the SABC, said of having cameras and microphones in court..

The SABC wants to put three television cameras in court, with a microphone in front of the bench where legal counsel would address the court, as well as microphones in front of each of the five presiding judges.

The hearing is expected to begin on September 25.

The state and Shaik are opposing the application on the grounds that broadcasting the proceedings would infringe on Shaik's right to a fair hearing and his and other parties' rights to dignity and privacy.

Peter Olsen, for the state, said that, with cameras rolling, the serenity of the court and the natural interaction between bench and counsel would be lost.

Shaik's counsel, Jeremy Gauntlett, believed his sense of freedom in argument would be impeded.

Pincus, however, argued that it was the judges on the bench, not public perception, who determined if a trial was fair.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Cape Times.