The Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, has outlined plans including memorial services at various Anglican parishes across the country in honour of the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
In the lead-up to Tutu’s funeral on Saturday, the bells of St George’s Cathedral in the CBD will ring for 10 minutes at midday from Monday to Friday.
The City of Cape Town will host an interfaith service on Wednesday.
The Arch will then lie in state on Friday in the St George’s Cathedral.
Makgoba has appealed to everyone to attend memorials at their own parishes in order to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
“The Archbishop Desmond Tutu IP Trust and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation will host an event in Cape Town on Thursday evening. Please attend services in your local community and parishes. COVID-19 regulations restrict attendance at funerals [is] 100 and we must respect that,” adds Makgoba.
Below is the full media briefing:
Meanwhile, Parliament has described Tutu as a person who remained faithful to his calling of service to the people.
The Institution says he was a servant of God and spiritual leader who fought fiercely and with great courage as well as fearlessness against the apartheid regime.
The Arch was usually among the dignitaries invited by Parliament for the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The Institution says Arch, remained a true patriot and fearless leader who led from the front even in difficult times of repression.
It says he was unapologetically speaking truth to power no matter the circumstances and remained a humble servant of the people of this country.
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) chairperson Amos Masondo say he laid a solid foundation for peace and reconciliation for this country.
The two say on the day former President Nelson Mandela was going to be elected in the National Assembly as the first democratic President, the Arch, introduced him to the crowds at the balcony at City Hall, in Cape Town.
That is the same balcony Mandela delivered his first speech as a free man on the 11th of February 1990. –Additional reporting by Lynne Arendse
SA Council of Churches to hold memorial service in Pretoria on Wednesday:
