The City of Tshwane today confirmed that an armed robbery took place at the Pretoria Art Museum at 11:00 yesterday morning during which five paintings from its permanent collection were stolen.
Three men under the pretence of being students and their art lecturer asked to view specific pieces. After they were shown where the paintings were they then at gunpoint tied up the museum official and took off with 6 paintings. They left one painting of Irma Stern behind presumably because it was too big to fit into their car.
The stolen paintings’ worth is estimated at R17, 5 million. National and international art organisations were alerted of the theft and the details of the paintings were given through.
The Art Museum has taken precautionary steps by removing other valuable pieces until the police have completed their investigation. The City will tighten security at the museum.
The Art Museum will be closed this week and will reopen on Tuesday 20 November 2012.
The paintings stolen are:
Maggie Laubser
Cat and Petunias (1936)
Oil on canvas
59 x 50cm
Hugo Naudé
Hottentot Chief
Oil on canvas
44,5 x 34cm
JH Pierneef
Eland and bird (1961)
Gouache drawing on paper
25 x 36,5cm
Gerard Sekoto
Street scene
Oil on canvas
45,5 x 53,5cm
Irma Stern
Fishing boats (1931)
Oil on canvas
68,5 x 91,5cm
For more information please contact Pieter de Necker at 012 358 2263 or 076 825 5777.