Thieves dump R12m Stern painting on road
2012-11-12 09:56
Johannesburg - Thieves who had made off with paintings worth millions of rands dumped one of them, a R12m Irma Stern, on the pavement as they were making their getaway, Beeld reported.
The gang managed to make off with a R9m Irma Stern and a Gerard Sekoto, worth R7m.
They also made off with Maggie Laubser's Cat and Petunias, valued at R1m, JH Pierneef's Eland and Bird, valued at R45 000, and Hugo Naude's Hottentot Chief, worth R300 000.
A sixth painting, Irma Stern's Two Malay Musicians, valued at R12m, was dumped on the pavement outside the museum after the robbery on Sunday morning, apparently because the criminals were unable to fit it into their getaway car, a silver Toyota Avanza.
According to museum staff, the thieves arrived with a "shopping list" of what they wanted, and demanded to be given specific paintings.
After holding staff member Dawood Khan at gunpoint, they took out their list, and demanded to know where the paintings were.
Museum curator Dirk Oegema said the robbery would be discussed at an urgent management meeting on Monday.
Art expert Stephen Welz said the theft was a tragedy, but that he was puzzled by it, as famous works of art were so well documented that it was nearly impossible to sell them, locally or abroad.
- SAPA
