The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said its leadership will on Wednesday “attend the court case of the two white men … who beat up a black man … and put him in a coffin”.
The case is to be heard at the Middelburg Magistrate Court.
The party said in statement that Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Martins Jackson “took a video and put it up on social media for amusement after humiliating” Victor Rethabile Mlotshwa.
“This humiliation can be based on nothing else but his blackness‚ which means it is in actual fact a humiliation of black people as a whole‚” the statement added.
“The incident took place at JM De Beer Boerdery next to Komati Power Station. They are charged with kidnapping and assault with intend of grievous bodily harm and the court case will take place under the following details.”
Malema on Monday used the incident to attack members of the clergy who were critical of his controversial statements‚ asking “where are statements from pastors and bishops condemning what white farmers did to this black man?”
The Bishop of Johannesburg Dr Steve Moreo had reprimanded Malema for his vitriolic attack on fellow white South Africans following a court appearance on charges under the Riotous Assemblies Act a week earlier in Newcastle.
“We are not calling for the slaughtering of white people – at least for now‚” Malema told supporters.
Such language‚ said Bishop Moreo in a statement published by the Anglican Communion News Service on Wednesday‚ had no place in a free democracy.
“Malema's vitriolic attack on his fellow white South Africans is sad and a stark reminder that the naked sin of racism is alive and well in South Africa. It is a reminder that racism is as damaging whether articulated by black or white and is no different to the corruption and greed of many in our country - all of which is decaying our land right now‚” he said.
“It is particularly shameful to see it manifest in a person such as Malema.”
– TMG Digital
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 