Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika has been released from jail on R5 000 bail and his trial has been set for November 8.

The state's prosecutor, Ansie Venter, did not oppose bail.

After being released wa Afrika said "I'm happy to be out. The truth has set me free and it will continue to set us free.

"I knew I would get bail. They didn't and don't have a case against me. Is it a crime to receive a fax?"

Wa Afrika said the whole drama has inspired him to work harder.

"This will not bring me down. It has given me the inspiration to work harder. i will work harder to get closer to the truth."

Wa Afrika and his co-accused, Victor Mlimi, have been told to surrender their passports and to report to their closest police station at eight o'clock in the morning once a week.

Wa Afrika will report to the Rosebank police station while Mlimi will use the White River police station.

Wa Afrika's lawyer Eric van den Berg said "we are pleased that he has been granted bail. We will cooperate with the police and we will do what we need to do."

Wa Afrika told a group of journalists before his court appearance that general Mapiyane, who is second in command in Mpumalanga's crime intelligence asked why he had written a story claiming that Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza had resigned. This took place at Wa Afrika's interrogation at 2am on Thursday.

"I told him to search on Google to see if he will find such a story. He told me that he didn't like my attitude."

Sunday Times editor, Ray Hartley, has reiterated that the story was never published.

Wa Afrika said another police official, warrant officer Molapo asked him why he was writing about Mpumalanga as there were eight other provinces to write about.

"I asked him if he had a problem with it, and he said yes, he had a serious problem with it."

Wa Afrika said when he was arrested on Wednesday, Hawks head spokesman Musa Zondi personally went to his house to pick up his phone, despite his lawyer Eric van den Berg having told him that he will bring it.

"I want to know what a guy who is not a police official was doing with my phone."

Wa Afrika said he did not have a good time in the police holding cells. "The toilet at Waterfall Boven didn't even flush. I told my lawyers I'm not spending one more night there."