"An order is made... directing the [JSC] to permit representatives from the media to attend the preliminary hearing/investigation," said Judge Frans Malan in the High Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

He set aside the JSC's decision that the preliminary hearing would not be open to the public or the media, thus accepting Avusa, Mail&Guardian and e.tv's bid to cover the proceedings.

Malan also said the media houses must be permitted to "set up such equipment as is necessary in order to obtain a sound recording" of the hearing for broadcasting purposes.

The JSC was made responsible for the costs of the case.

The media companies had forwarded public interest, transparency and confidence in the judiciary as motivation for their application.

The judges alleged last year that Hlophe made an inappropriate approach regarding a judgment on Jacob Zuma, before he became the country's president.

Hlophe lodged a counter-complaint that they had infringed his dignity by making the complaint public.

The media houses argued that the facts of the case are widely known as a result of the first round of hearings, which Hlophe could not attend after submitting a sick note.

The same court ordered that the hearings should start afresh and a newly constituted JSC decided to start with a closed preliminary inquiry by three members.