Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s death at the age of 90 has sent South Africa into a state of mourning, with Cape Town at the forefront of honouring the passing of “the greatest Capetonian”. Described as an embodiment of faith, the anti-apartheid campaigner and proponent of love, unity and justice who coined the term “the Rainbow Nation” has seen tribunes pour in from around the world – from Barack Obama to the ordinary man on the street, and even Table Mountain honours his legacy by being lit up in purple – a colour associated with ‘The Arch’.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a mentor, a friend, and a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere. pic.twitter.com/qiiwtw8a5B
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 26, 2021
The Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust and the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation have confirmed plans for “a week of mourning” which will lead up to Tutu’s funeral service at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town on Saturday, January 1.
Some plans for the “week of mourning” include:
- The bells of St George’s Cathedral to ring for 10 minutes starting midday from Monday to Friday.
- Table Mountain and City Hall will be lit up in purple, and mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has invited all Capetonians to write in a boo of condolences at City Hall.
Every night this week, the @CityofCT will light up Table Mountain and City Hall in purple – a colour synonymous with Archbishop Tutu. ?#RIPDesmondTutu
?: @geordinhl pic.twitter.com/NMJDquBfWZ
— kfmza (@KFMza) December 27, 2021
I’ve written a remembrance message in the Condolence Book inside the Civic Center. I would like to encourage Capetonians to do the same. We will be placing Condolence Books at city facilities around Cape Town and at St. George’s Cathedral. pic.twitter.com/YkODL6PZsj
— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) December 26, 2021
- A memorial service will be held by the Anglican Diocese of Pretoria and the SA Council of Churches on Wednesday.
- The City of Cape Town will host a special tribute at the City Hall on Wednesday, 29 December 2021, at 18:00 which will include representatives of the family and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation who will be part of the service. Among the faiths represented will be Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Brahma Kumaris, Bahá’í, African Traditional Religion and Khoisan representatives. Various local and international artists will also pay tribute to the Arch as part of the service.
The City of Cape Town will also live-stream the service on their YouTube channel and share the link on our various social media pages.
- An intimate evening with friends of ‘The Arch’ and his wife, Nomalizo Leah Tutu will be hosted by the Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust and the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation on Thursday.
- Tutu will lie in state on Friday at the St George’s Cathedral prior to his funeral service the following day.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s passing, beyond leaving a monumental ache in the hearts of many, has also been a powerful reminder for South Africa and the world, of the impact one person can have. From his endless wisdom to his spirit that lives on in every act of ubuntu, his impact on the world for the better is etched into our hearts eternally.
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Tributes pour in for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “the greatest Capetonian”
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery