White South African farmers jailed after forcing black man into a coffin

Two white South Africans have been sentenced to more than 10 years each in prison for forcing a black man into a coffin and threatening to set him on fire.

Farmer Willem Oosthuizen was sentenced to 11 years in prison, and his accomplice, Theo Jackson, was given 14 years.

The case prompted fury in racially-scarred South Africa and debate over the legacy of white minority rule, which ended in 1994.

Supporters of the ruling African National Congress party celebrated in court on hearing the verdict.

The incident rose to national and international prominence after a 20-second video emerged of the two white men forcing their victim Victor Mlotshwa into a coffin and threatening to put petrol and a snake inside.

Mlotshwa was seen begging for his life in his video.

Oosthuizen and Jackson had pleaded not guilty. They accused Mlotshwa of trespassing on their farm and stealing copper cables.

Oosthuizen is a father-of-two, Jackson a father-of-three. They have said they feared being killed in prison and had pleaded for a suspended sentence.

They were convicted in August of attempted murder, kidnapping and other crimes, some 100 miles east of the capital, Pretoria.

‘The conduct of the accused was most dehumanising and disgusting,” said the judge, Segopotje Mphahlele,when handing down the sentences.

Most popular on Yahoo News UK:

These are the most powerful passports in the world
UK weather: Many Brits to get first frost of the winter this weekend
Jealous lover jailed for life after ‘brutally’ murdering her sister so she could steal husband
Sadistic shopkeeper tortures and ties up mouse to ‘teach it not to steal’
Daily Mail accused of ‘starting race war’ after over Cambridge University ethnicity row

She said their behaviour raised and fuelled racial tension.

Prosecutor Robert Molokoane told the court: ‘They had no respect for the law as they took the law into their own hands. They took the video to show what they do with the black man.’

Armed police officers had been drafted in for the sentencing.

Amnesty International South Africa’s Executive Director, Shenilla Mohamed, said: ‘The conclusion of this grotesque case sends a clear – and welcome – message that acts of racism or discrimination will not be tolerated in South Africa.

‘The government must now move with speed to finalise the Hate Crimes legislation in order to deal decisively with incidents of discrimination.’