Desmond Tutu, South African equality activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, dead at 90

spaminator

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 26, 2009
38,822
3,560
113
South Africa's anti-apartheid veteran Tutu to be laid to rest in state funeral

Author of the article:
Reuters
Reuters
Wendell Roelf
Publishing date:
Dec 31, 2021 • 4 hours ago • 1 minute read •
Join the conversation
Pallbearers carry the coffin as the casket containing body of late Archbishop Desmond Tutu arrives at St. Georges Cathedral, in Cape Town, South Africa, December 31, 2021.
Pallbearers carry the coffin as the casket containing body of late Archbishop Desmond Tutu arrives at St. Georges Cathedral, in Cape Town, South Africa, December 31, 2021. Photo by Sumaya Hisham /REUTERS
Article content

CAPE TOWN — Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a hero of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, will be laid to rest on Saturday in an official state funeral in St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town, where for years he preached against racial injustice.
Advertisement
Story continues below
Article content

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the main eulogy for Tutu, whose death on Sunday aged 90 triggered an outpouring of tributes from around the world.

Tutu, awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to white minority rule, was known for his infectious laugh and easy-going manner but they belied a steely resolve to fight for the downtrodden during the darkest hours of apartheid and beyond into the 21st century.

Widely revered across South Africa’s racial and cultural divides for his moral integrity, Tutu never stopped fighting for his vision of a “Rainbow Nation,” in which all races in post-apartheid South Africa could live in harmony.

“Without forgiveness, there’s no future,” the charismatic cleric once said.
Advertisement
Story continues below
Article content

Hundreds of well-wishers queued on Thursday and Friday to pay their last respects to Tutu as he lay in state at the cathedral in a simple, closed pine coffin with rope handles, in accordance with his wishes for a frugal funeral.

As Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu turned St George’s into a refuge for anti-apartheid activists during the turbulent 1980s and 1990s when security forces brutally repressed the mass democratic movement.

His body will be cremated in a private ceremony after Saturday’s requiem mass and will then be interred behind the pulpit from where he once denounced bigotry and racial tyranny.

Church bells have tolled daily this week at St George’s in honor of the man often described as South Africa’s “moral compass.” Many would refer to Tutu as “Tata” or father.

“Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humor, Desmond Tutu’s voice will always be the voice of the voiceless,” is how long-time friend and former president Nelson Mandela, who died in December 2013, described his friend.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mowich

spaminator

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 26, 2009
38,822
3,560
113
'OUR NATIONAL CONSCIENCE': Desmond Tutu laid to rest in South Africa

Author of the article:
Reuters
Reuters
Wendell Roelf
Publishing date:
Jan 01, 2022 • 17 hours ago • 3 minute read •
Join the conversation
Pallbearers carry the casket holding the body of Archbishop Desmond Tutu after his funeral service at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, on Jan. 1, 2022.
Pallbearers carry the casket holding the body of Archbishop Desmond Tutu after his funeral service at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, on Jan. 1, 2022. Photo by Charlie Shoemaker /Getty Images
Article content

CAPE TOWN — President Cyril Ramaphosa lauded the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu as “our moral compass and national conscience” as South Africa bade farewell at a state funeral on Saturday to a hero of the struggle against apartheid.
Advertisement
Story continues below
Article content

“Our departed father was a crusader in the struggle for freedom, for justice, for equality and for peace, not just in South Africa, the country of his birth, but around the world,” Ramaphosa said, delivering the main eulogy at the service in St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town, where for years Tutu preached against racial injustice.

The president then handed over the national flag to Tutu’s widow, Nomalizo Leah, known as “Mama Leah.” Tutu, who was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to white minority rule, died last Sunday aged 90.

His widow sat in a wheelchair in the front row of the congregation, draped in a purple scarf, the colour of her husband’s clerical robes. Ramaphosa wore a matching necktie.
Advertisement
Story continues below
Article content

Cape Town, the city where Tutu lived for most of his later life, was unseasonably rainy early on Saturday as mourners gathered to bid farewell to the man fondly known as “The Arch.”

The sun shone brightly after the requiem Mass as six white-robed clergy acting as pall bearers wheeled the coffin out of the cathedral to a hearse.

Tutu’s body will be cremated and then his ashes interred behind the cathedral’s pulpit in a private ceremony.

“Small in physical stature, he was a giant among us morally and spiritually,” said retired Bishop Michael Nuttall, who served as Tutu’s deputy for many years.

Life-size posters of Tutu, with his hands clasped, were placed outside the cathedral, where the number of congregants was restricted in line with COVID-19 measures.
Advertisement
Story continues below
Article content

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who leads the global Anglican Communion, said in a recorded message: “People have said ‘when we were in the dark, he brought light’ and that… has lit up countries globally that are struggling with fear, conflicts, persecution, oppression.”

Tutu’s family members were visibly emotional.

His daughter, Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, thanked well-wishers for their support as the Mass began, her voice briefly quivering with emotion.

Widely revered across South Africa’s racial and cultural divides for his moral integrity, Tutu never stopped fighting for his vision of a “Rainbow Nation” in which all races in post-apartheid South Africa could live in harmony.

Hundreds of well-wishers queued on Thursday and Friday to pay their last respects as his body lay in state at the cathedral.
Advertisement
Story continues below
Article content

As Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu turned St George’s into what is known as a “People’s Cathedral” a refuge for anti-apartheid activists during the turbulent 1980s and 1990s when security forces brutally repressed the mass democratic movement.

A small crowd of around 100 people followed the funeral proceedings on a big screen at the Grand Parade, opposite City Hall where Tutu joined Nelson Mandela when he gave his first speech after being freed from prison.

“We have come to give our last respects to our father Tutu. We love our father, who taught us about love, unity and respect for one another,” said Mama Phila, a 54-year-old Rastafarian draped in the green, red and yellow colours of her faith.

Mandela, who became the country’s first post-apartheid president and who died in December 2013, once said of his friend: “Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu’s voice will always be the voice of the voiceless.”