AS IT HAPPENED: Gareth Cliff gets his Idols SA job back

He told the media that he will be holding a press conference tomorrow at Cliff Central. Time to be confirmed.

Gareth Cliff gave a short statement alongside his lawyer Eric Mabuza following his victory in court.

Axed Idols judge Gareth Cliff won a mammoth lawsuit against M-Net on Friday, hours before the first auditions for the show were due to start.

The celebrity won his bid to be reinstated as a judge of the popular talent scouting show, Judge Caroline Nicholls ruled in the High Court in Johannesburg.

"This is a contractual dispute. The contractual relationship has to be reinstated to what it was. M-Net will pay costs to Gareth Cliff," Nicholls told a packed court.

Gareth to be reinstated as Idols SA judge with immediate effect.

Judge: the issue is whether Gareth Cliff has a legally binding agreement with M-Net.

Judge: The dispute is solely a contractual one at this stage.

Court in session.

Gareth Cliff shares a word with his legal team ahead of proceedings.

Cameras allowed in court.

Gareth seen chatting to friends about the urgency of the matter, adding that he was expecting a flurry of meetings once the ruling had been handed down.

The judge has permitted cameras into the court.

Gareth Cliff looks very relaxed as he whistles while he waits for court proceedings to start.

Cliff appears calm and confident and was whistling as he walked out of the lift.

Gareth is dressed in a black suit, white shirt and shades. He smiled and joked with photographers as he walked into court.

Gareth Cliff arrives at court.

We should have a ruling in the Gareth Cliff vs Idols SA case within the next hour.

We're at the High Court in Johannesburg. There's a small group of media outside.

The judgement is expected to be delivered before 10:00 today.

Controversial media personality Gareth Cliff will know today whether he gets his job as a judge on M-Net's singing competition Idols back.

The channel booted him from the show following a backlash on Twitter after he commented on KwaZulu-Natal realtor Penny Sparrow's Facebook post. She called black New Year's day revellers monkeys.