A trial of the doctor who allegedly falsified former Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride's medical certificate will commence next year.

Doctor Joseph Morolong Moratioa will go on trial on 23 March next year, the Pretoria Regional Court said on Friday.

The State had argued that this date was too far in the future, while the defence said this was the only available date for the four-member defence team.

The State requested a "guarantee" that the matter would proceed and that defence would be present on the said date.

Magistrate Peet van Vuuren said he would postpone the matter until then, though he was unhappy about it.

Moratioa is accused of defrauding the state, after he allegedly claimed to have examined McBride following the police chief's December 2006 car accident.

Sapa