Archbishop Desmond Tutu to receive a Category 1 State Funeral with religious characteristics

President Cyril Ramaphosa says Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who died on Sunday at the age of 90, will receive a Category 1 State Funeral with religious characteristics.

Ramaphosa was one of the people who visited the Tutu family home on Monday at Milnerton in Cape Town to pay his respects.

Ramaphosa, who also addressed the media outside the home says the life of the Archbishop should be celebrated. He added Tutu played a huge role in promoting social cohesion in South Africa.

“Archbishop led millions of our people in the struggle against apartheid and when apartheid was defeated, he also led the process of reconciliation. And as he became concerned about some of the errors of the governing party, he spoke out. He was brave. He was forthright and we loved him just for that because he was a voice for the voiceless and he was a person who campaigned for justice.”

Ramaphosa has called on the public to take life lessons from the contributions of Archbishop Tutu.

Tributes are being paid across the globe following Tutu’s death. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his role in the struggle to abolish the apartheid system.

Ramaphosa spoke to the media after visiting the Tutu family at their Milnerton home. He provided some information about Saturday’s funeral, due to be held at St. George’s Cathedral.

Desmond Tutu | President Ramaphosa visits Tutu family: 

“We look forward to putting him to rest on the 1st and I will be there and the government will follow the lead of the church in all this. We are humbled to be given this opportunity to participate in honouring this great man, even as a government.”

Asked if Tutu would be given a Class 1 funeral, Ramaphosa confirmed, “Oh yes, absolutely. It is a Class 1 with religious characteristics.”

A former student of the late Anglican Archbishop Tutu, Marlene le Roux, says Tutu taught her many life lessons.

Le Roux, the CEO of Artscape in Cape Town, was one of Tutu’s students at the University of the Western Cape in 1984. She says the clergyman taught her compassion, and to stand for the right things in life and that everyone is equal in the eyes of the Lord.”

“The Arch was for people with disabilities. The Arch was a fighter for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, for humanity overall. We have lost a person, a human being that cared deeply for humanity. The only way we can pay tribute to the Arch is to pursue his legacy that the world needs to be a just world for all.”

Desmond Tutu | President Ramaphosa addresses media outside Arch Tutu’s residence: