The Limpopo man accused of defacing "The Spear" painting
His former employer Mphaphi Machipi told the Sowetan that Louis Mabokela was on sick leave when he defaced the painting.
Mabokela (25) worked as a taxi driver in Limpopo.
"I was surprised to see Mabokela [on television] defacing the painting of President Jacob Zuma in Johannesburg, while he had told me he was around and not well," said Machipi.
Mabokela told the daily newspaper it was worth losing his job "in order to restore the dignity of the president".
The Spear depicted Zuma with exposed genitals, sparking countrywide controversy. – Sapa