A South African court on Friday convicted two white farmers of attempted murder and kidnapping for forcing a black man into a coffin.
Theo Martins Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen in August last year beat up a black South African man, Victor Mlotshwa, 27 and forced him to get into a coffin.
The two white farmers where charged in November last year for assault and kidnapping after a 20-second video that showed their action went viral on social media.
In that video, Victor Mlotshwa was threatened to enter the coffin or risk being burnt. He told journalists at the court last year that “They were accusing me of trespassing.They beat me up and forced me into the coffin”.
The incident caused outrage all over South Africa highlighting the struggle by the rainbow nation to overcome racism.
The Judge Sheila Mphahlele said in delivering her judgment that “In relation to count five, the attempted murder of Mr Mlotshwa, I hereby find you both guilty. In relation to count six, intimidation, I hereby also find you guilty.”
“I am in the final analysis satisfied that the State has proven beyond reasonable doubt the committing of all the offences except for count one,” the judge added.
Theo Martins Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen who have now been convicted will be sentenced on 23 October.
Source: Africafeeds.com
