Piet Plessis, North West - A farmer and his son accused of electrocuting a worker and almost killing another in Piet Plessis appeared in the Vryburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, North West police said.
Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the men, aged 69 and 33, would appear again on Thursday.
Beeld newspaper named them as Mathys, 69, and Danie Cloete, 34.
They face charges of murder, attempted murder, assault, and pointing a firearm.
The two apparently called two farm workers to a store room, accusing them of stealing two tyres and 25 litres of diesel. When the workers denied the theft, they were allegedly tied up with chains, assaulted and shocked with jumper cables.
One of the workers died one the scene, and the other was injured. - Sapa