Farmers in ‘coffin case’ plead not guilty

Two white farmers accused of forcing a black South African into a coffin and threatening to pour petrol over him and burn him alive have pleaded not guilty.

Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Martins Jackson were arrested last year after a video of Victor Mlotshwa in a coffin began circulating online.

The farmers face charges of assault, attempted murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.

The high profile case drew protesters from across the political spectrum.

Supporters of South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) were holding separate protests.