A man arrested in Cape Town over the weekend and thought to be involved in compiling a dossier detailing a plot to overthrow or kill President Thabo Mbeki is likely to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court today.

National police director of communications Phuti Setati told the Cape Times yesterday that the police were reserving comment on the reason for the man's arrest.

He would not specify what charges the man faced.

Setati also could not name the man until he had appeared in court.

A weekend report said the man has been arrested on a warrant relating to a fraudulent passport. It also said another warrant issued by the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Friday said police believed the man might be linked to a case of "conspiracy to commit murder" and of crimen injuria.

Setati refused to confirm whether the man was arrested because of the dossier or because of any involvement in conspiracy to commit murder and crimen injuria.

He said police were investigating "certain allegations against the suspect", but could not comment on the reason for the arrest as this would "hamper investigations".

"I can confirm that the man was arrested during an operation undertaken in Cape Town on Saturday.

"He is likely to be charged in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court (today) if all goes well.

"He must appear within 48 hours."

Setati said police undertook similar operations at the homes of the suspect in Pretoria and Cape Town.

Asked why the man was being charged in Pretoria instead of Cape Town, where the arrest was made, Setati said: "Logic is if you commit a crime in Cape Town, you have to appear in a Cape Town court. He is appearing in a Pretoria court."

Western Cape director of prosecutions Rodney de Kock was unable to give details, including the reasons for the arrest.

The president's spokesman, Bheki Khumalo, said the president's office could not comment on why the man had been arrested and that it was a police and intelligence matter.

With acknowledgements to Nazma Dreyer and the Cape Times.