Two white farmers are due to go on trial in South Africa today accused of pushing a black man into a coffin and threatening to douse him in petrol and burn him alive.

When Victor Mlotshwa resisted, the farmers are alleged to have threatened to put a snake into the coffin with him.

The accused, Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson, were arrested last November after a video of the alleged incident was posted online.

They said Mr Mlotshwa had been trespassing on their farm in Mpumalanga province and needed to be taught a lesson.