South Africa bids adieu to âglobal iconâ Desmond Tutu at funeral
Qatar Tribune
dpa Johannesburg South Africa took time on Saturday to say goodbye to national hero, anti-apartheid activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu. T...
dpaJohannesburgSouth Africa took time on Saturday to say goodbye to national hero, anti-apartheid activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu.The funeral service for the world-renowned human rights activist and Anglican archbishop emeritus, who died on Sunday, began at St Georgeâs Cathedral in Cape Town early on Saturday.âIf we are to understand a global icon to be someone with great moral stature, of exceptional qualities and service to humanity, there can be no doubt it refers to the man we are laying to rest today,â President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his eulogy.Champion of freedom, equalityâTutu was without question a crusader in the struggle for freedom, justice, equality peace, not only in South Africa ... but around the world as well.â[He was] a humble and brave human being who spoke for the oppressed, the downtrodden and the suffering of the world how fitting is it that his parents named him Mpilo when he was born, meaning life.âHe enriched the lives of all those he met and who got to know him for him, opposing injustice ... he never stopped fighting, he never stopped speaking out and he never stopped caring.âHe was a spiritual father of our new nation.âHe has been our moral compass and our national conscience, he has left a formidable legacy and we are diminished by his passing.âHis was a life lived honestly and completely. He has left the world a better place and he has left our country a much better place.â Since the end of apartheid, Tutu had also championed the fight against climate change, HIV, child marriage and gender discrimination.Ramaphosa then presented Tutuâs widow, Leah, with South Africaâs six-coloured flag, which inspired Tutu to coin the term ârainbow nationâ to describe the peaceful coexistence of South Africaâs many population groups after apartheid.Tutuâs ashes are later due to be interred in a mausoleum inside the cathedral, from the pulpit of which Tutu preached for many years against the brutality of the apartheid regime.Famed for his modesty, Tutu was laid to rest in a simple coffin, while the family asked for charitable donations in lieu of flowers.Mourners at the intentionally simple ceremony were limited to close friends and family, clergy and a few international guests, including King Letsie III from neighbouring Lesotho.South Africans followed the funeral service live on state television.The countryâs most prominent clergy member died on Sunday at the age of 90, triggering a wave of tributes from around the world for the theologian, who was known for his battles for racial justice and LGBTÂ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights.Many places have honoured him in ceremonies, and the South African flag has flown at half-mast across the country. Church bells throughout South Africa have rung daily in Tutuâs honour since Sunday.ReconciliationTogether with Nelson Mandela, Tutu fought to bring justice to South Africaâs majority black population living under the apartheid regime imposed by the white minority government. After the end of apartheid, Tutu worked for reconciliation between the different ethnic groups in South Africa.In 1984, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Tutu âfor his role as a unifying leader figure in the non-violent campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa.â