Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour and his deputy Loretta Jacobus paid an unexpected visit to the Taliep Petersen murder trial in the Cape High Court on Thursday.

They took seats in a bench normally used by the media shortly before the start of proceedings, and sat through about half an hour of evidence before leaving.

"It's a public court," Balfour said in response to journalists' questions on why he was there.

"It's a hearing on proceedings that I read about in the newspaper, and me and the deputy minister just thought we'd pop in."

"Popping in" was easier said than done for the minister, who cannot claim to be the slenderest member of cabinet.

"They didn't do these things for big guys," he complained good-humouredly as he maneouvred into the narrow bench.

On trial are Taliep's widow Najwa, and three men she allegedly hired to carry out a hit on her entertainer husband in December 2006.

Balfour made headlines when he gave a paroled murderess a job in his office two years ago.

Sapa