Former Orlando Pirates soccer star Mandla Sithole was released on R5000 bail during his appearance on a murder charge before a Roodepoort magistrate on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old former striker is accused of stabbing and strangling Thulani Ndlovu (30) on Sunday, in a dispute over R100.

Sithole's lawyer, Mafori Mphahlele, argued Sithole was willing to pay only R3000, despite calls by the investigating officer and the State that bail should be set at R5000.

Mphahlele argued that the R5000 was a bit steep for Sithole, who works for Orlando Pirates and earns a monthly salary of R7000, as he had "other expenses".

But magistrate Ruby Matthys ignored this argument, saying R5000 was a "reasonable amount".

"I grant bail of R5000, in line with what the investigating officer proposed... having looked at his [Sithole] personal circumstances.

"I'm satisfied that the accused won't interfere with State witnesses. He's a first time offender and it can't be argued that he has a tendency to commit crime," she said.

Before postponing the case to June 30, Matthys ordered Sithole to report to the Brackenhurst police station every Wednesday.

Sithole told the court he would be relocating to the area to live with his sister as a way of avoiding contact with the murder victim's family.

Ndlovu's family lives near Sithole's home in Dobsonville, Soweto, south of Johannesburg.

"It is important to attach stringent conditions... the condition that you reside at this address [Brackenhurst], that you do not contact State witnesses while out on bail or send anyone to talk to them," Matthys said.

She named Brian Nkwinika, Pule Mhlaba and Mpho Mnadi as the three key witnesses in the case.

Sithole has been in custody since he handed himself to police on Monday.