The Javett Art Center at the University of Pretoria will host a public discussion about its inclusion of the work of convicted killer, Zwelethu Mthethwa, in the All in a Day’s Eye: The Politics of Innocence exhibition.
Mthethwa was convicted for killing a sex worker and sentenced in 2017 to 18 years in jail.
The Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) started an online petition last week, asking that the work be removed.
Marketing officer at the Javett Art Center at UP, Ngozi Lebogang Chukura, says they will not remove the artwork.
“Having the painting up is not a platform at all for Zwelethu Mthethwa or for what he did. What it is, is evidence of the misogyny that was inherent in his work already. We are not in anyway in opposition to SWEAT or their position, We agree that Miss. Nokuphila Kumalo’s memory must be honoured, and in having these conversations we are also going to have a public forum on 26 October which will be free and open to the public in order to discuss what having this painting here means.”
