Two white farmers, who forced a terrified black man they caught on their land into a coffin and threatened to throw in a snake and burn him alive, were sent to prison today for attempted murder.
Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson were also sentenced for kidnapping, assault with GBH and intimidation in a trial that highlighted the deep racial divisions in South Africa.
The pair were sentenced to a combined 35 years after a court was shown a horrific two-minute long video of them threatening their victim, trapped inside a coffin, as he pleaded for his life.
South African Farmers Willem Oosthuizen (left), 30, and Theo Jackson (right), 29, were sentenced for attempted murder, among other charges, after their attack on a black man which involved forcing him into a coffin
The video, recorded by the farmers, showed the helpless Victor Mlotshwa (pictured in court) with his hands clasped in prayer, whimpering as he was forced to lie down in the casket. Mlotshwa was seen begging for his life as his tormentors tried to close the lid on him
The video, recorded by the farmers, showed the helpless Victor Mlotshwa with his hands clasped in prayer, whimpering as he was forced to lie down in the casket.
Mlotshwa was seen begging for his life as his tormentors tried to close the lid on him, claiming to have found him trespassing.
Married father of three Jackson, 30, was sentenced to 19 years, with five years suspended, meaning he will serve 14 years.
Married father of two Oosthuizen, 29, was sentenced to 16 years with five years suspended, meaning he will serve 11 years.
The pair, who said they lived in fear following repeated death threats while remanded in custody for eight months, were jeered at and branded racists by a largely black crowd in the court.
They have already said they feared being murdered in prison and had begged for a suspended sentence.
However the judge told them their actions had fueled racial tensions in South Africa before sentencing them.
Dozens of extra armed police officers were drafted in to keep law and order both inside and outside the court, after fears of violence breaking out if the sentence had not been a long prison term for them both.
The two farmers who pleaded not guilty were given two months bail to put their affairs in order after being found guilty by Judge Segopotje Mphahlele at Middelburg High Court sitting in the Magistrates Court.
The court is in Mpumalanga Province in the east of South Africa where the farm was based.
Mr Mlotshwa appeared before Judge Mphahlele and said he thought the farmers should be jailed for 15 years.
While the victim also said he was due compensation for his ordeal of R400,000 (£22,750).
The attackers' defence lawyers requested the judge show mercy and give them non-custodial sentences.
But prosecutor Robert Molokoane said the whole country was watching adding: '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.'
He said that the offences opened old wounds as they were racially motivated.
In August both were convicted after Mr Mlotshwa's ordeal in the coffin was shown to the court on a big screen.
They were also caught on video of threatening to throw a snake in the coffin with their terrified prisoner.
