BBC News Online: World: Africa

Anger at murder hearing

Farmer Piet Odendaal is said to have tied the legs of Mosoko Rampuru, to the back of a farm vehicle and dragged him for several kilometres, eventually dumping the body in a field.

Mr Odendaal, 44, was remanded in custody.

Attacks

The crowd of about 500 people gathered at the magistrate's court in the small town of Sasolburg, about 80km (50 miles) from Johannesburg, for the bail hearing.

"End racism in South Africa," read a placard held by one protester outside the court.

The mobs later ran through the town for several minutes, attacking white businesses.

A white man was hit in the back of the head before running for safety behind a security gate.

"People must vent out their anger, and that is exactly what they are doing today," said MP Dennis Victor Bloem.

Post-mortem results

Police say Mr Odendaal dragged Mr Rampuru's body behind his pick-up truck for 5km (three miles), before dumping the disfigured corpse in an open field on 26 August.

It is still not clear if Mr Rampuru, 37, was dead or alive when he was dragged through the streets of Sasolburg.

A post-mortem examination report is expected this week.

"If justice is not done, there is something we call revenge. That will happen," said Alfred Mphasa, Mr Rampuru's brother.

Mr Odendaal's lawyers asked the court to order a psychiatric examination of their client.

A hearing for the application was set for 28 September.

The Sasolburg incident has shocked South Africa, still struggling to overcome racism, six years after the end of apartheid.