Archbishop Thabo Makgoba pays tribute to Desmond Tutu

The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, has sent his condolences to the family of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu following his passing on Sunday.

In a statement, Archbishop Makgoba says,  “While we mourn his passing, as Christians and people of faith we must also celebrate the life of a deeply spiritual person whose alpha and omega – his starting point and his ending point – was his relationship with our Creator. He took God, God’s purpose and God’s creation deadly seriously. Prayer, the scriptures and his ministry to the people God entrusted to his care were at the heart of his life.”

“He believed totally that each one of us is made in the image of God and ought to be treated as such by others. This belief was not reached through celebral contemplation; it arose from his faith and was held with a deeply-felt passion. He wanted every human being on earth to experience the freedom, the peace and the joy that all of us could enjoy if we truly respected one another as people created in the image of God,” added Makgoba.

‘Stand up against unjust government systems’

Because he believed this, and because he worshipped God, he feared no one. He named wrong wherever he saw it and by whomever, it was committed. He challenged the systems that demeaned humanity. He could unleash righteous anger on those – especially the powerful – who inflicted suffering upon those the Bible calls “the least of these, my brothers (and sisters).” And when the perpetrators of evil experienced a true change of heart, he followed the example of his Lord and was willing to forgive.”

‘Tutu’s legacy is moral strength, moral courage’ 

“He felt with the people. In public and alone, he cried because he felt people’s pain. And he laughed – no, not just laughed, he cackled with delight when he shared their joy.”

Makgoba adds that the Anglican Church in Cape Town will make the necessary funeral and memorial arrangements.

Details will be announced later.

Archbishop Makgoba, Minister Patricia De Lille pay tribute: