Archbishop Desmond Tutu announces his retirement

By Lelethu Mquqo
22 July 2010

Archbishop Desmond Tutu says he will step out of the public spotlight after he turns 79 in October this year.

Tutu made the announcement today in Cape Town, saying he spends too much of his time in airports and hotels, and wishes only to age gracefully at home with his family.

Desmond Tutu was born on the 7th of October 1931 in Klerksdorp

Between 1976 and 1978 he was the Bishop of the Anglican Church in Lesotho and the Secretary-General of the South African Council of Churches.

Tutu was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1984, and chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995 when apartheid was abolished in South Africa.

In his announcement today he said he would be limiting his time at the office to one day a wee until the end of February 2011, when the office begins it’s official winding down process.

He said he will remain with the Elders and the Nobel Laureate Group. He also will continue his support for the development of the Desmond Tutu Peace Center in Cape Town.

Desmond Tutu will step down from positions at the UWC where he has been chancellor for over 30 years and from the UN Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention among others.

He will also be reviewing the list of organisations where he is involved as patron and he will not be available for media interviews.

He lastly stated that he would like to thank South Africans for affording him the space and support to do his work and for allowing him to represent them at the Nobel Peace ceremony in 1984.