Violence erupts after South African farmers accused of killing black teen get bail

A firefighter works to put out a fire at a home in Coligny, South Africa on Monday. Protesters reportedly burned down a farmhouse two white South Africans accused of killing a black teenager were granted bail. (The Associated Press)

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Firemen attempt to put out a fire at a home in Coligny, South Africa in this Monday photo. (The Associated Press)

Two South Africa white farmers, Phillip Schutte, front, and Pieter Dooreward, back, are seen Monday outside a Coligny court. The two, who are accused of murdering a black teenager, were granted bail in the racially sensitive case sparking violence. (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Two white South African farmers accused of murdering a black teenager last month have been granted bail, sparking violence Monday.

Angry protesters demonstrated outside the courthouse during the hearing, which took place in the rural town of Coligny in North West province.

The protesters burned down a farmhouse after the two men, 26-year-old Pieter Doorewaard and 34-year-old Phillip Schutte, were granted bail of about $370 each, according to the Mail and Guardian. Demonstrators reportedly hurled Molotov cocktails into the home.

Doorewaard and Schutte on April 20 allegedly caught 16-year-old Mathlomola Mosweu while he was stealing sunflowers and put him in the back of a van, South African media say.

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The teen's cause of death is unknown, according to local media.

The farmers say the boy died after jumping out of the van while it was moving, but prosecutors say he was pushed or thrown out of the vehicle.

Looting and other violence occurred in Coligny around the time of the boy's death.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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