Victor Mlotshwa, who was threatened with death and forced into a coffin by two farm workers in Mpumalanga, has vowed to challenge their bid to appeal their sentence, reports TimesLIVE. Theo Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen were granted leave to appeal their sentence on 2 February and will present their case before the SCA in the hope of having their convictions and jail sentences overturned.

In October 2017, the pair were found guilty of attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to not only Mlotshwa but another man, Delton Sithole. They were also found guilty of intimidation and kidnapping. Jackson faced another charge of defeating the ends of justice after he burnt the coffin, which would have been used as evidence. Oosthuizen was sentenced to a total of 16 years, five of which were suspended. Jackson was sentenced to 19 years, five of which were suspended.

Judge Segopotje Mphahlele, who had heard the case, had denied Jackson and Oosthuizen leave to appeal their sentences, describing their crimes as appalling, disgusting and dehumanising.

A few days after they filed their petition with the SCA, they returned to Mphahlele, requesting she grant them bail pending the SCA's decision. The judge at the time said the two had failed to raise any new evidence since they last appeared before her, adding that there was no reasonable prospects for the appeal. Mlotshwa said he was shocked that they were now granted leave to appeal but said he would fight it.

Full TimesLIVE report