×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Spear vandal and uncle attend the march

FIRM GRIP: e.tv footage shows Paul Molesiwa holding Louis Mabokela by the throat.
FIRM GRIP: e.tv footage shows Paul Molesiwa holding Louis Mabokela by the throat.

Louis Mabokela's uncle travelled from Limpopo to attend the ANC march on the Goodman Gallery with his nephew

The uncle of one of the men who defaced The Spear a week ago has travelled from Limpopo to Johannesburg to join the march against the work and was one of the first to arrive at the protest today.

Stephen Sefofa, uncle of Louis Mabokela who was caught by television cameras smearing black paint across the work of President Jacob Zuma, said he came to Johannesburg to support the protest.

“An insult is an insult... let us be one,” he said.

Sefofoa was speaking on behalf of his nephew who was with him at the march but deferred to his uncle when questioned by journalists.

Mabokela laid a charge of assault against the security guard who subdued him in a struggle after he damaged the painting.

Paul Molesiwa, 36, appeared in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the assault.

In video footage of the incident Molesiwa can be seen headbutting and flipping Mabokela onto the ground where he cable ties his hands behind his back.

Sefofa said he was glad City Press had withdrawn the work and apologised.

A member of the public, Sipho Mweli, said he came from Mpumalanga to join the protest and to support President Jacob Zuma.

Around his neck he had hung a cardboard on which he had written, “Draw your white father naked not our president”.

He said the placard was aimed at Brett Murray and he challenged him to draw a white man in the manner he has drawn Zuma.

Elijah Tauraza, also from Mpumalanga, said the painting was intended to belittle Zuma.

“How do you portray the president exposed when you have not seen him that way, even when he grew up?” he said.

The painting by Murray needed to be destroyed, he said.

“Keeping it in any form was an insult to Zuma and South Africans,” he said.

The crowd at Zoo Lake numbered several hundred mid-morning. The group was singing liberation songs and dancing to music played over speakers on the back of a truck.

Click below to view the video footageof the attack on The Spear painting at the Goodman Gallery

.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.