The South African Christian Ministers Council says the late Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu stood up when many kept quiet against the injustices of the apartheid regime.
Tutu passed away on Monday at the age of 90.
A Category One state funeral will be held for Tutu on Saturday. Bishop Daniel Matebesi of the organisation says Tutu’s values must be emulated.
“He was our modern day Amos who stood against sin, not only against apartheid, recently also against evil of corruption, unemployment, inequality, poverty and violence against women and children, when most of the church leaders were silent.
He has run his race and stood for justice, peace as well as reconciliation, even when the apartheid regime hated him with passion. For fear of a revolution, they dared not to touch him.”
Update from outside Tutu’s home in Milnerton:
Meanwhile, Tutu’s neighbours in Soweto have described him as a man who was not just a global icon for peace but a man who cared for the poor and encouraged development in his area.
This emerged at a wreath laying ceremony outside Tutu’s Soweto home.
The event has been attended by Johannesburg Mayor, Mpho Phalatse, and retired Anglican Church Dean for Johannesburg Peter Lenkoe and congregants.
Tutu’s neighbour, Nkele Chakela says: “When they came here I was still young. And at home we were born from a poor family. uBaba Tutu and Mama Tutu around December time used to bring groceries to the poor. He took care of the elderly. He did his part. He has run the race.”
