National police commissioner Jackie Selebi's case was postponed to May 4 by the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday to allow for the tying up of loose ends.

Judge Meyer Joffe had expected to proceed with his corruption and defeating the ends of justice trial, but instead the State asked for a postponement.

Joffe ordered than when the parties returned to court on May 4, they should have fulfilled certain requirements.

These included the State writing to the Supreme Court of Appeal to ask it to attend urgently to its petition relating to documents it does not want to give Selebi.

On the return date, Joffe was expected to set a new date for the trial.

The State had said it would need at least two months to deal with outstanding affidavits and the related investigations required.

On leaving the court, Selebi was asked whether he was disappointed by the delay.

"Very... very," said Selebi, surrounded by his security detail.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Tlali Tlali said they believed that "to do justice it must be done 100 percent", and they want to be completely ready.

"We must not prosecute early for the sake of prosecuting... We must make sure that all our ducks are in a row."