One of the most controversial political leaders in South Africa's modern history is back in jail.

The leader of a neo-Nazi white extremist party in South Africa has handed himself over to the authorities to begin a six year jail sentence.

Eugene Terreblanche, leader of the white supremacist AWB Party, was jailed for the attempted murder of a black security guard in 1996.

Last week the Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa rejected Mr Terreblanche's appeal against his conviction for the violent assault of the security guard in 1996.

Notorious figure

Mr Terreblanche is remembered in South Africa as a man who threatened to take the country to civil war in the early 1990s in an attempt to derail negotiations to end apartheid.

He became a notorious political figure in the 1980s and early 1990s.

As leader of a white supremacist party, he held rallies with supporters dressed in khaki uniforms and sporting a swastika-like badge on their arms.

A striking figure with his blue eyes and beard, he became the self-appointed guardian of what he saw as Afrikaner values.

He was a fighter for a tiny minority of Afrikaners who were determined to stop the forces of change in South Africa which were bringing about the end of apartheid.

'I'll be back'

This will be his second stint in jail in less than a year; on previous occasions he has ridden up to court on his favourite horse, but this time it was a low key affair.

Mr Terreblanche handed himself over to the authorities in the town of Potchefstroom with little fanfare.

A small crowd of white supporters serenaded him with Afrikaner songs while black South Africans jeered.

And as he was led away, he turned to them and said: "Wait for me I'll be back."