Among those joining the world in mourning the death of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is anti-apartheid activist Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, who recalls a time he was visited by Tutu while imprisoned by the apartheid police in Sibasa, outside Thohoyandou, for bombing a local police station.
Armed with the bible in his hand, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu travelled the globe, mobilising communities against the apartheid government. His activism reached and touched many lives.
Anti-apartheid activist and theology doctorate holder, Dean Tshenuwani Farisani is one of those with countless memories of Tutu’s good deeds.
“The death of Bishop Tutu is not just any other death. He is an icon not only nationally but internationally. Thank God that when we bury him next week, we will not bury him with his values, ideas and ideals, with his golden heart,” says Dr Tshenuwani Farisani.
Dr Farisani recalls a time in 1982 when Tutu visited him while he was incarcerated at the Sibasa police station. He ended up smuggling out Dr Farisani’s letter that spoke of the brutality meted out on him and other political prisoners at the facility.
“He also played a very important role in my life, I smuggled a letter out of prison. In fact, at that time I was hospitalised at Tshilidzini hospital under police for 106 days altogether and I managed to smuggle out a letter which he read in Washington DC, alerting the world that I have been arrested for the fourth time and the previous detention were accompanied by torture.” Dr Farisani recounts.
Tutu’s funeral is scheduled for the first of January.
