The Sunday Times reports that Durban furnishers, Leather Gallery, is close to recovering its now famous blue couch that was stolen when its showroom was looted a week ago.
The San Pablo Corner Sofa, a genuine leather sectional with “elegantly sloped armrests and supportive headrests”, has been located at an informal settlement near Quarry Road in Durban.
Social media users solved the mystery by responding to Leather Gallery’s call for information on the couch’s whereabouts. The couch costs R67 000.
The couch was the subject of a meme when it was photographed at an informal settlement hours after it had been stolen.
Leather Gallery made the appeal for information on the whereabouts of its “beloved” sofa, which was “now stranded in the cold”, on Instagram.
“We are in the process of investigating the information received from many individuals. We have taken every tipoff into consideration and are compiling the many reports we received from the public about where some of our furniture could potentially be located.”
Shop owner, Greg Parry, said Leather Gallery was mulling its next move. “We want to take all of the necessary precautions as we understand that the situation is still potentially dangerous and can become volatile at any moment. “Unfortunately, as many people are now aware, Springfield Value Centre was severely looted and burnt down. We are heartbroken that our flagship Leather Gallery showroom [there] was completely looted and the building completely burnt as a result of the arsonists.”