JOHANNESBURG – Two unknown men have defaced the controversial artwork of President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed on Tuesday.

Caught on an eNews camera, The first man took a small can of red paint and slowly marked two large ‘X’ symbols over the genitals and the face with a paintbrush.

After a while, another man with a small can of black paint smeared the painting using his hands.

Footage on eNews showed security forcefully cuffing the men with cable ties after the painting had been defaced.

eNews journalist Iman Rappetti witnessed the incident, “Suddenly I see him whip out a can of red paint and a paint brush and he draws an ‘X’ over the genital area.

“He had a smile on his face which also appeared bizarre to me.

“Then he painted an ‘X’ on the president’s face and I realised something was wrong, so I apprehended him and asked ‘What are you doing?’

The men have since been detained by the gallery’s security.

Meanwhile, dozens of protestors have gathered outside the South Gauteng High Court after Zuma took the gallery and City Press newspaper to court.

Gauteng Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo decided that a full bench of three judges will now hear the case around the Goodman Gallery’s picture of Zuma

Police have surrounded the area and a small stage is being set up outside with music blurring as protesters sing and dance.|

Many are holding up posters that read “no to the abuse of artistic expression.”

Young students are also demonstrating.

They said Murray’s painting was disrespectful to the president and should be removed.

Zuma’s children have also been allowed to intervene in the case.

The judge said the decision has been made because of the huge national importance attached to the issue.

A lawyer representing Zuma’s children has also applied to allow them to be part of the case.

Meanwhile, the artist Brett Murray, is also going to be allowed to argue along with the gallery that his work should still be exhibited.

At the same time, e-news has been allowed to broadcast from the courtroom when the proceedings begin on Thursday morning.

Murray’s artwork “The Spear” has been slammed by Cosatu, ANC, ANCWL, SACP and Zuma’s family for showing the president’s genitals.

(Edited by Lindiwe Mlandu)