One of President Thabo Mbeki's bodyguards, on trial for the murder of a man during an argument, has been granted R1000 bail under strict conditions in the Blue Downs magistrates' court, Independent Online reported yesterday.

One of President Thabo Mbeki's bodyguards, on trial for the murder of a man during an argument, has been granted R1000 bail under strict conditions in the Blue Downs magistrates' court, Independent Online reported yesterday.

Timothy Sabata, 35, a police sergeant in the Presidential Protection Services Unit in Cape Town, is not allowed to visit the Relax Tavern in Eerste River, enter the Eerste River area at all or contact witnesses.

Magistrate Chris van Schalkwyk also warned Sabata that he could not go abroad, but would be permitted to travel in South Africa.

He said Sabata was a danger to the public and the witnesses.

Sabata's attorney, Anwer Titus, had asked for him to be released on bail because he supported three children and was paying off a house.

But prosecutor Denzil Combrink argued against bail. He said Sabata was a danger to the public and the witnesses.

Sabata was arrested at the tavern on June 17, shortly after Reginald Mofela, 20, was fatally shot in the back. A young woman, Ncebakazi Booi, sustained a gunshot wound to her arm in the incident.

Andile Ntswana from the Independent Complaints Directorate said witnesses had made statements about Mofela and Sabata arguing outside the shebeen's toilet. - Sapa