Siyavuya Mzantsi
THE Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Centre has received a major boost to the tune of R14 million from the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust, of which R12m will go towards the refurbishment of the Old Granary.
This was announced at the Cape Grace Hotel yesterday, where Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah were in attendance, along with some members of the trust and mayor Patricia de Lille.
Chairman of the trust, Dumisa Ntsebeza, said R2m would be used for the operations of the centre.
“This is a moment which I never thought could arrive. The City of Cape Town magnanimously gave us a piece of land in a prime area of Cape Town, where the vision at that stage was to put up a physical presence of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre. I don’t know why we never thought of the Old Granary at that time,” Ntsebeza said.
He said the area, which will house the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Centre, was big enough and they were happy to contribute a “substantial” amount subject to certain conditions they reached with Tutu.
Situated in the heart of the CBD in Buitenkant Street, the Old Granary building is more than two centuries old and is one of the most significant architectural landmarks in the city.
Tutu paid tribute to members of the Peace Centre, saying it must have been frustrating for them as they were trying to work out details and seeking to raise funds for the “incredible site”.
“It is a prime site, as you may very well think of where it is. On behalf of our family I want to say thank you. Leah and I are very deeply grateful and deeply touched by your commitment and touched by the fact that you were saying this is something you want to see as a viable project,” Tutu said.
He said his emotions about the move were something that he battled to put into words.
“Please accept these words as coming from profoundly touched hearts. I want to say to each of you, thank you very much for your dedication, commitment and (for) believing in the project. You must have had many moments where you could have been justified in walking out. It isn’t as if any of you were looking for something to do,” he said.
De Lille said it was a privilege to pay homage to Tutu for his family’s contributions toward peace and reconciliation. “One of the objectives of the Legacy Foundation is to position Cape Town as a world capital for the intellectual and practical pursuit of local and global peace, morality and human dignity. In the light of the importance of this building as a public asset, we committed to invest R30m towards its restoration and refurbishment,” she said.
The completion date would be announced by December.
“For the city’s part, we can report that the final lease report on the centre will go before full council at the end of the month for approval,” De Lille said.