The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban briefly adjourned on Monday to thrash out issues surrounding the media, cameras being allowed in court, and the protection of witnesses in the Zandile Gumede corruption matter.

Judge Sharmaine Balton first heard from Andrea Gabriel SC, who was representing the State's interests in the media application.

Balton made it clear from the onset that she wanted to protect key witnesses in the case.

"I don't want witnesses under public and television scrutiny, because we know people's lives have been threatened," she said.

Gabriel said they wanted one camera in the courtroom for the reading of the charges that was scheduled to take place this week.

She indicated that there would be supplementary papers filed regarding the media application.

The reading of charges has been delayed for some time now, with a slew of postponements arising from many of the accused struggling to pay for some of Durban's most expensive criminal lawyers.

Balton said on Monday that print and online media had to be cautioned about protected witnesses.

"Perhaps, regarding witnesses' identities, you would attend to all of that," Balton said to Gabriel.

Earlier this month, there was a blanket ban preventing media from taking photographs or filming proceedings during the corruption trial.

That ban has since been set aside after the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) successfully challenged it in the High Court.

Gumede and her co-accused are charged with racketeering, fraud and corruption relating to a R320-million waste contract.

The Office of the Chief Justice previously sent a letter to the media indicating that Balton would not allow the proceedings to be filmed or photographs to be taken in court.

At that stage, the media had not lodged any formal applications for permission to do so.

Sanef challenged the ban in an urgent application in the High Court, where it asked for Balton's decision to be rescinded.

In a founding affidavit, Sanef executive director Reggy Moalusi said the organisation viewed the decision as unconstitutional.