Welz Apologises for 'Deeply Offensive' Comments

The head of the auction house Strauss & Co, Stephan Welz, has offered an apology for the comments he made, which were printed in the The Times newspaper last week, concerning the works of Zwelethu Mthethwa. 

The comments were made with regards to the future prices of the works of Mthethwa, who has been charged with the murder of the alleged sex worker, Nokuphila Moudy Kumalo, and whose trial is set for another pre-trial hearing on the 13 June.

According to the All Africa website Welz stated: "Given the wider context of the plague of violence in South Africa, particularly violence towards women and those vulnerable in our society. I see how my comments may have been deeply offensive. This was absolutely not my intention and I apologise unreservedly.

"Under no circumstances do I or any of my colleagues at Strauss & Co condone the actions of which Zwelethu Mthethwa has been accused. Violence of any kind is abhorrent to me and my deepest condolences go out to the family and community of the victim. I hope the full weight of our justice system will be brought to bear in this situation."

The website went on to report that the apology came after the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) picketed Stausss and Co's head office in Johannesburg last week.