"He is the kindest and softest person I have ever met, an absolute gentleman."

This is how the girlfriend of Jacobus Stephanus "Bees" Roux described the Blue Bulls rugby prop who on Friday morning was arrested for a vicious attack that led to the death of Tshwane metro police officer Sergeant Ntshimane Johannes Mogale.

Roux, who has been charged with murder, will appear in the Hatfield Community Court tomorrow.

Karien du Toit, Roux's girlfriend for the past seven months, said: "Everyone, from family and friends to rugby players of his former provinces, the Griquas and Cheetahs, have offered their support. They all know the type of person that he is. He is big, but he would not hurt a fly," she said.

The 29-year-old player, who is 1.86m tall and weighs well over 100kg, allegedly beat Mogale to death during the early hours of Friday morning in Hatfield.

By the time paramedics arrived on the scene at around 3am, Mogale, a father of two, had died of extensive injuries.

Du Toit said she visited Roux in custody.

"He is doing well under the circumstances, but I would like this ordeal to be over, and I want him home."

He lives in Equestria, Pretoria.

Yesterday, it emerged that Roux's initial legal representative, Ernst Serfontein, was no longer representing him.

"I was appointed by his girlfriend, but another attorney has been appointed by his family," said Serfontein.

His agent, James Adams, said he "will not cast any light" on who the new attorney was.

He added: "What has been published in the media regarding Roux has come across as passing judgment without facts. Bees is a gentle man with a soft heart and the incident is unfortunate for all concerned. Unfortunately, owing to time restraints, the bail application will now be heard on Monday."

Griquas CEO Arnie van Rooyen said: "Bees was always on time for training and was not aggressive at all. He is a very easy-going type of guy."

But the image of Roux as a gentle giant who would not hurt a fly contrasts sharply with the events that unfolded on Friday morning.

Police said the incident happened after Roux was stopped for drinking and driving.

Mogale allegedly got into Roux's VW Polo to drive him home. At some point, Roux allegedly began assaulting him.

Netcare spokesman Chris Botha said: "When paramedics arrived ... they found the victim with injuries to his head, lying in the middle of the road. He was lying on his side, and there was blood on the road and on the side of his head."

Dikeledi Lehobye, the mayoral committee member responsible for community safety, expressed shock at the death.

"Mogale was committed and dedicated to his work. We just hope the law takes its course," she said.

She said Mogale was working for the metro police's visible policing unit and was stationed in the city centre.

"He and two of his colleagues were on the last night of their night-shift duty when he was killed."

She said the two colleagues were too traumatised to speak about the incident.

"We tried to interview them on Friday, but there was nothing much we could get out of them. We will try speaking to them again this week."

According to her, the officers stopped Roux's vehicle after noticing that it was moving very slowly. "They suspected that the driver was drunk and stopped the car."

She said the officers refused to allow Roux to continue driving, and Mogale then took over the wheel.

Asked whether Roux underwent tests after being suspected of driving drunk, she said they were on their way to the police station when Mogale was killed.

Roux, who was born in Upington but grew up in Prieska in the Northern Cape, has played rugby for the Griquas, Leopards and Cheetahs.

He was a product of top rugby school Marlow Agricultural High School in Cradock in the Eastern Cape. His most notable achievement was his selection for the Royal XV, who played against the British and Irish Lions in May last year.