The times for viewing the body of the late Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu have been changed from 9 AM to 5 PM on Thursday and Friday.
The viewing was initially expected to take place from 7 AM to 7 PM.
Tutu will lie in state for two days to allow the public to view him.
He died on Sunday at the age of 90.
Archbisop Tutu has been honoured with a Category One State Funeral service which will take place on New Year’s Day on Saturday.
Anglican Archbishop, Thabo Makgoba says St Georges Cathedral will then be closed after the viewing times. He says the changes were made to prevent traffic congestion.
“And after 5 PM on Friday the Cathedral will be closed and there will be a silent vigil in the Cathedral where the Archbishop will be. And at 9 PM on Friday there will also be compline by the clergy. It’s not a public event, that is on both days after 5 PM, – the Cathedral doors will be closed. May the Archbishop indeed rest in peace and rise in glory. And the change in times is in order to allow the morning traffic to actually not to be disturbed from 7(AM) to 7(PM). We changed the times just to be considerate.”
Desmond Tutu | Road closures ahead of interfaith service for Arch Tutu:
Public to visit the grave
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba says the public will always have the opportunity to visit the grave of the late retired Archbishop Emeritus Tutu inside the St George’s Cathedral after his internment.
His remains will be interred inside the Church after he has been cremated. Makgoba explains how the process will unfold after the funeral on Saturday.
“And so what will happen after the service at the Cathedral, the Archbishop will go to the crematoriums and his mortal remains will be cremated and returned to the Cathedral. And thereafter a private family interment service. And then so the Archbishop with then lie in the Cathedral for the rest of the Cathedral’s life and people can come and pay homage and tribute and see his grave or his place of internment at the Cathedral.” –
