The Pretoria High Court on Tuesday granted an application by the Right2Know Campaign (R2K) to compel the Presidency to open the interviews of candidates for the post of National Director of Public Prosecutions to the media.

In line with the order, 20 media representatives will be allowed to attend the interviews.

The order follows an urgent application by the information freedom activism group. The court rejected an argument by the Presidency that the urgency of the application was self-created, and allowed the matter to be argued on the day.

The Presidency has sent out a note to editors, advising that journalists wishing to cover the interviews arrive at the Union Buildings between 7am and 7.30am.

"Media accreditation will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis, while consideration will be given to ensuring fair representation of different media organisations," it added.

The Presidency was ordered to pay the court costs of Tuesday's application.

There are 12 shortlisted candidates, whose names were published by the presidency in an unprecedented step, and the interviews will continue until Friday.

R2K had filed the application on Sunday and argued that the process must be public for the sake of confidence in the selection process and the next head of the National Prosecuting Authority.