Johannesburg - Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on Saturday said he cancelled his flight to the Eastern Cape to attend former president Nelson Mandela's funeral after he received no indication that his name was on the guest list.
“Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata to gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral,” Tutu said in a statement.
“Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome there is no way on earth that I would have missed it.”
Tutu has presided over the funerals of other struggle heroes such as Steve Biko, Chris Hani and Walter Sisulu. - Sapa