The murder case of a South African rugby player entangled in accusations of racism and police corruption was postponed on Friday after prosecutors asked for more time to investigate.

Magistrate Desmond Nair said the case against Super 14-winning Bulls prop Bees Roux would be put back to December 10.

But Nair also told investigators to speed up their work as they attempt to unravel events in the early hours of August 27 that led to the killing of a traffic officer in a street in South Africa's capital city.

The 28-year-old Roux, who won this year's Super 14 with Pretoria's Bulls, is accused of beating to death Tshwane metro police officer Sergeant Ntshimane Mogale.

Mogale, 38, was found lying in a road with serious head injuries after he allegedly pulled Roux over for driving under the influence of alcohol.

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

Roux was also charged with drink driving.

Wearing a striped cream shirt and black trousers, the powerfully built Roux appeared in a courtroom packed with metro police officers on Friday when his 100,000 rand ($A13,100) bail was extended by Nair.

In his first court appearance on August 30, Roux's lawyer said his client intended to plead not guilty to murder.

He is yet to formally enter a plea.

The events involving Roux and Mogale are still unclear.

On August 30, the court heard Roux had been pulled over by Mogale on suspicion of drink driving.

Mogale may then have been driving Roux home when an altercation broke out.

However, 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.

Roux claims his car was being stolen and that he was acting in self defence, according to his lawyer.

South Africa's Municipal Workers' Union, which said Mogale was one of its members, has called the case involving a white rugby player and a black policeman "a racially motivated killing".

It said it was a reminder "that racial hatred still exists in our society".

There have been no allegations of a racial motive in court proceedings.

An undercover media investigation by one of South Africa's leading radio stations says it has discovered the precinct where Mogale worked, Region Six in Pretoria, is rife with corruption.

Roux is expected to enter a plea when he returns to court on December 10.

The case will then go to trial in February or March.

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