A White South African farmer was in court yesterday to answer to charges of forcing a Black worker to drink faeces.
The farmer, Harry Leicester, his wife Maria and son Chris, were arraigned before the Equality Court in Springs, near Johannesburg, on Monday.
Leicester had forced an employee, Joseph Mona, to drink a jug of sewerage after he failed to turn on a septic tank pump. He also tried to drown Mona in the tank.
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Mona had also been a victim of racial attacks from the Leicester family.
The court proceedings were initiated by the South African Human Rights Commission after Mona’s tales and many others emerged in January, the BBC reports.
Leicester and his family have denied any wrongdoing, with the family lawyer terming the allegations ‘a vexatious and false’.
“It is submitted that we will attempt to prove that there is no prima facie case. At the end of the applicant’s case‚ we will ask for absolution from the instance‚” said the lawyer.
Mona is seeking a public apology and damages of $8,000.
A separate criminal case, in which the Leicester family is accused of attempted murder and kidnapping has been postponed until June 4 pending investigation.
The case, held behind closed doors, is ongoing.
