'Coffin assault' accused denied bail
The two men accused of assaulting Victor Mlotshwa and forcing him into a coffin has been denied bail in the Middelburg Magistrate's Court.
Theo Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen are facing four counts including assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and kidnapping.
Magistrate Jongilizwe Dumehleli delivered judgement in the bail application, saying the assault was triggered by brutal racism.
"It would not be in the interest of justice for applicant number one to be released on bail. Applicant number two has also failed to satisfy me that it is in the interest of justice for him to be released on bail. I deny bail," says Dumehleli.
A video of the attack, which happened in August, went viral.
Martins and Oosthuizen can be heard threatening Mlotshwa with snakes and burning him alive while he was forced into the coffin.
"The manner in which the applicants were economical about why they were in possession of the coffin...since there is no evidence that suggests if the applicants own a funeral parlour or any possibility of them having a funeral, I am only left with grave concern about this coffin," says Dumehleli.
The NPA's Monica Nyuswa welcomed the ruling.
Video by Maryke Vermaak