Two white men have been sentenced to more than ten years imprisonment for kidnapping, assault and intent to do grievous bodily harm after they shoved a black man in a coffin and threatened to set him ablaze.
Willem Oosthuizen and Theo Jackson were sentenced to 11 and 14 years in jail, respectively.
Victor Mlothshwa was assaulted by the two defendants, who put him in a coffin and threaten to set him ablaze.
The assault took place on a farm close to Komati power station in Middelburg, a northeastern town, and spurred national outrage, prompting recollections of the country's racist past.
The court fell silent as the heavy sentences were handed out. Family members of Oosthuizen and Jackson sat together in court and cried.
The case has shocked the country and seen an outpouring of support for the victim, Victor Mlothshwa.
A mobile stage, sponsored by the ANC, was set up outside the court as local and regional leaders took turns to address the hundreds of the supporters who had come from surrounding areas to show support for Mlotshwa.
About 30 white farmers also came to show solidarity with the accused. They stood adjacent to the entrance of the court looking on, mostly in silence, as the crowd danced, sang, and shouted slogans.
Mlothshwa was riding a wave of public outrage ever since the video of him being assaulted in a coffin went viral in 2016.
Though they argued the men were sorry for the consequences of their actions, the prosecution argued the accused had shown little remorse.
The final judgement is expected to have far-reaching consequences for race relations in the country.
In the video, which went viral, Oosthuizen and Jackson can be seen trying to close the lid of the coffin with their boots as Mlothshwa begged for his life.
The men can be heard hurling abuse and threatening to douse him with petrol and set him on fire.
Oosthuizen and Jackson pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, saying they merely wanted to scare Mlotshwa, who they accused of cable theft.
Mlotshwa denied any wrongdoing and said he was picked up by the two men while taking a shortcut towards Middelburg.
Deep-seated racial inequality persists in South Africa two decades after the end of white-minority apartheid rule.