A controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma in the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg was defaced by two men, gallery staff confirmed on Tuesday.
e-News footage captured an older white man and a young black man in the act.
“One man painted a red X across Zuma's face and the second covered the painting with black paint,” a gallery spokesman said.
Both the face and waist of the painting were covered in black paint and no longer visible.
The painting, called “The Spear” by Brett Murray and bought by a German collector for about R136,000 was damaged on Tuesday around 11am.
The two men were being held by the gallery security team. The police were on their way there.
The painting, depicting Zuma with his genitals exposed, has sparked a furore, and prompted the ruling African National Congress to seek a court order for its removal from the gallery. - Sapa