Business woman and politician Cheryl Carolus has urged politicians to emulate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s integrity and willingness to stand for what he believed in, even when it wasn’t popular.
She was speaking at the Arch’s memorial service at the Cape Town city hall.
Carolus has called for honesty.
The outspoken liberation icon says politicians of today are entitled and plundering public resources.
The memorial service was politically charged as the former UDF General Secretary says the Arch never denounced those who embarked on an armed struggle but rather associated with liberation struggle.
Carolus says Tutu was never afraid to take on governments, co-operations and society at large: “The Arch was never afraid of calling out leaders, he called out apartheid leaders and our newly elected leaders. When those whom we had elected to lead us in our first democratic elections were discussing their salaries and their perks and just look at the mess of entitlement and corruption we are sitting with today. The Arch took on governments, co-operations, the church and societies at large.”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s legacy has polarised South Africans with some hailing him as an icon and others a sell-out.
His legacy as the head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has had some younger generations seeing him as someone who was too apologetic and diplomatic.
Cape Town executive mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says Tutu was never a sell-out: “Some South Africans of a certain generation similar to mine have taken deride him and his colossal legacy by arguing that the Arch was too forgiving, too loving, too gracious, too kind and too spirited and I think again he could chuckle. His life showed that our politics can be big and not small and society can be all encompassing and not a certain sector or race.”
Desmond Tutu’s legacy continues to be a topical discussion, just like the man himself who always stood his ground on his beliefs.
Tutu’s remains will lay in state for the next two days, with South Africans having an opportunity to view his remains at the Cathedral in Cape Town.
