National police commissioner Jackie Selebi's corruption trial was postponed to October 5 in the High Court in Johannesburg on Monday.

This followed the State's application for a further postponement to get witnesses' statements and conduct further investigations.

Selebi, who had not been charged yet, said he was angry about the postponement.

"Let the people have the courage to put the allegations they have to me in an open court of law - that's why I'm angry," he said.

The State should not "run around and give excuses about this and that and files that are lost".

He had abandoned an original demand for outstanding documents that could help his case so that the trial could get underway.

"Bring it on, that's all I'm saying, bring it on."

Judge Meyer Joffe said he was unhappy about postponing the case for so long, but the court roll and availability of judges left him with no choice.

He apologised to Selebi and the public for the delay, which he said made the justice system look bad. He warned State prosecutor Gerrie Nel that, barring any "extraordinary" reason, the trial must go ahead.

"Let there be no misunderstanding in that regard," he said.

Selebi faces two charges of corruption and one of defeating the ends of justice relating to payments he allegedly received from slain mining boss Brett Kebble and his associate Glenn Agliotti, who is accused of murdering Kebble.

The investigation began in 2006.