We just wanted to teach him a lesson - coffin duo

2 December 2016

Middelburg – The two men who allegedly forced Victor Mlotshwa into a coffin did it because they merely wanted to teach him a lesson, the Middelburg Magistrate's Court heard on Friday.

Their lawyer John Welch read out Theo Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen's affidavits during the second day of their bail application hearing.

In both their affidavits they admitted that their actions were "negligible" but they did not mean any harm.

They also requested the court to grant them bail and said they would make R5 000 available.

They also assured the court that they would not interfere with witnesses or influence Mlotshwa.

However prosecutor Robert Molokoane disputed this and said: "Keeping them in custody will satisfy the public."

"It is a shock to see a man being put in a coffin," he said.

On Thursday the court heard that Mlotshwa, was kicked all over his body and his hands were tied with a cable, Investigative Officer Detective Constable  Dimakatso Bahula testified.

Bahula told the court that on August 17 Mlotshwa left his place of residence and noticed two Land Cruisers following him from behind.

She said the bakkies stopped and the two men assaulted Victor and kicked him without any explanation.

Jackson and Oosthuizen had previously abandoned their bail bid.

They are facing charges of kidnapping and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

The case was originally postponed to January 25 while they remained in custody.

The alleged assault of Mlotshwa took place at the JM de Beer Boerdery, next to the Komati power station in Mpumalanga.

In the 20-second video of the incident, which was posted on YouTube on November 7, one man, speaking in Afrikaans, forces Mlotshwa into a coffin and threatens to pour petrol on him.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.