Rohde's R100,000 bail

Murder accused Jason Rohde was let out of the back door, evading dozens of cameras, after he was granted bail yesterday in the Stellenbosch Magistrate's Court.

Earlier, in a private meeting between his defence team and the prosecution, it was agreed that Rohde would pay R100,000 bail. And when magistrate Greg Jacobs granted the bail, the money was ready to be paid in cash.

Rohde is charged with the murder of his wife, Susan, on July 24. Her body was found in the couple's hotel room at Spier wine estate near Stellenbosch.

Shortly after the court adjourned Rohde strolled out of the back gate, waving goodbye to court police officers. He was driven away in an SUV by his team of private investigators, mostly consisting of former senior officers from specialist police units.

Tony Mostert, one of his five-man defence team, pulled no punches outside court when he criticised the media, saying Rohde's arrest in his Bryanston home last week and his subsequent detention were "wrongful". He said Rohde's private investigation "has found, among other things, that the police investigators probably contaminated the crime scene".

The team's investigation included a private pathology report by Reggie Perumal.

"The defence team is most concerned about how unsupported evidence appears in the media, which is recklessly abused to create sensationalism," he said.

"[Rohde] has inexcusably been put through trauma in the past week of incarceration under dreadful circumstances."

Besides the bail paid yesterday, Rohde is expected to have a R1-million guarantee ready by September 14. The CEO of Geffen International Realty Franchises is worth R30-million, said defence advocate Pete Mihalik.

Rohde is due back in court on September 23 when the police will have finalised the case, according to prosecutor Carien Theunissen.

He has to report twice a day to the Randburg police station when in Johannesburg and three times a week to the Melkbosstrand police station when in the Cape.