South African rugby union player Bees Roux was charged with murder on Monday after allegedly beating a policeman to death in Pretoria.

At a bail hearing in a court room crowded with police officers, Roux's lawyer said his client, who won the 2010 Super 14 rugby title with the Bulls, would plead not guilty.

The 28-year-old Roux claims his car was being stolen and that he was acting in self defence, said the lawyer, who also claimed his client's credit card had been used at a fast food restaurant after he was placed in custody.

There were so many colleagues of the slain police officer, 38-year-old Sgt Ntshimane Mogale, in court Monday that some had to sit on the floor. A murmur rose from the officers when it was suggested during the hearing that Roux saw himself as a victim.

Members of Roux's family and the family of Mogale were also present.

Bail was set at 100,000 rand ($A14,425) and Roux, who had spent the weekend in jail, left court with his family ahead of an October 15 court date at which he was expected to plead.

Prosecutors said evidence suggests Roux, a prop for Pretoria's Blue Bulls team and Super 14 champions the Bulls, murdered Mogale "with his hands". Mogale's body was found on a Pretoria street in the early hours of August 27 with injuries to his head.

Roux had been pulled over by Mogale on suspicion of drink driving. The player was also charged with that offence.

The court heard Mogale may have been driving Roux home when an altercation broke out. It was not clear why two other officers who were with Mogale when Roux was pulled over were not following the car, or why Roux was not taken to the nearest police station.

Local media reports, quoting a witness, said Mogale was severely beaten and had his head smashed into the road by Roux following an argument.

In an affidavit read out by his lawyer in court, Roux, whose full name is Jacobus Stephanus Roux, denied that he attacked Mogale in that way.

In the affidavit, Roux also said "I hold no grudge against anyone" and that he had "no intention to live the life of a fugitive" if he was released on bail.

Roux, dressed in a grey sweat shirt and blue jeans, spoke only to confirm that the contents of the affidavit were accurate and to agree to the proceedings to continue in English.

For the majority of the hearing, which was adjourned a number of times, Roux sat with his hands clenched in front of him and his head bowed.

While there was no suggestion in court of a racial motive in the killing of a black police officer with a white suspect, the South African Municipal Workers' Union called it "racially inspired" in a statement Monday. The union said the dead officer was one of its members.

Racial tension is never far from the surface in South Africa, 16 years after the end of white rule.

Roux has played for the Leopards, Griquas and Blue Bulls teams in South Africa's domestic Currie Cup rugby competition and had a spell with French club Clermont in 2008.

He also played for the Bulls in the victorious Super 14 campaign earlier this year, appearing regularly as a reserve. He was on the bench in the win over the Stormers in the all-South African Super 14 final in May.

Roux last played for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup on August 20. He was not been picked to play against the Pumas in Nelspruit last Friday.

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