A man accused of murdering his three-year-old son says he has been falsely implicated and denies allegations that he used an iron rod to beat the boy to death.

Angelino Cassamba, from Angola, was testifying before Judge Siraj Desai in the Cape High Court yesterday.

The State alleges he murdered his son, Adilson, and is guilty of contravening the Child Care Act.

In the dock with him is his former girlfriend, Cynthia Buyiselwa, who says she saw him kill the child.

She has testified that he gave her instructions to meet him so they could find a place to dump the boy's body.

Cassamba denies the allegations and testified yesterday that he did not know why Buyiselwa would implicate him falsely in the murder.

"Maybe it was because I was a foreigner and not a South African. I don't know why she did this to me," he said.

Holding back tears, Cassamba told the court he had hoped Adilson would care for him when he was old.

"He was my everything... I lost my blood... I am all alone. I feel so sad that I lost my son."

He said the child was not at home when he arrived back from work, and Buyiselwa had told him she left the toddler with her family.

The next day the boy had still not returned home.

On the third day, he got a call from the Philippi police, who told him they were searching for his son, Cassamba said.

He said he was confused because he did not know his son had been reported as missing.

When he arrived at the police station, police began to question him and told him he should wait there until Buyiselwa arrived.

They said that Buyiselwa had told them that he was the one who had killed Adilson.

The police locked him in the cells.

Cassamba told the court he had a good relationship with his son.

He said the boy had initially lived with his mother, Charleen Hendricks, and later moved in with him and Buyiselwa.

Buyiselwa took care of him when he was at work.

He said the pair appeared to have a good relationship, and that Buyiselwa hit him only when he dirtied his pants.

He denied Buyiselwa's allegations that he was abusive towards her and the child.

During the bail application hearing in the Athlone Magistrate's Court, investigating officer Hendrik Phillips testified that he believed Buyiselwa was the main perpetrator, and that she had been motivated by her jealousy of the boy.

The trial continues.