Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu dies at 90

The last surviving South African laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu will be laid to rest on Saturday, at the St George’s Cathedral.

Tutu passed away in his home on Sunday, at the age of 90.

In a statement on his passing, President Cyril Ramaphosa called Tutu “a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead”.

Among his many accomplishments, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was an honorary doctor at several universities in the United States of America, Germany and Britain. Courtesy: SABC

Tutu, who was born in Klerksdorp, was a teacher before being ordained as a priest in 1960. In the years that followed, Tutu obtained his masters in Theology, taught Theology in South Africa, was the assistant director at a theology institute in London, became the first black dean at the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg and became the first black General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches.

The Anglican Archbishop played a critical role in ending apartheid, and was the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was aimed at transitioning South Africa from the apartheid rule to a full democracy.

To commemorate his life, the bells at the St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town will ring for 10 minutes at midday, every day this week.

The South African Council of Churches will host a memorial service on Wednesday. 

Done By: Caitlin Maledo