Johannesburg - The trial of two men accused of vandalising a painting depicting President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed will continue in the Hillbrow Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Barend la Grange, 58, and Louis Mabokela, 25, are accused of defacing Brett Murray's painting “The Spear” at the Goodman Gallery on May 22, by smearing red and black paint on it.
After his first court appearance, La Grange said the gallery and the artist had the right to display the painting, but once their point had been made, the painting should have been taken down.
“A high court must get involved for a painting? It took me 15 seconds to get rid of the painting,” he said.
He said his action was a political statement. It was not about art, but rather a political issue which had become a race issue.
“It was my spoilt ballot paper,” La Grange said.
He said he did not know Mabokela and met him only after they were both arrested. - Sapa