Cape Town - Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu celebrates his 84th birthday on Wednesday, and a week from now his wife Leah will turn 82. And mayor Patricia de Lille is intent on making the occasion a special time for the couple.
De Lille said on Tuesday, at a media briefing to announce plans for the celebrations, that the Tutus, who marked 60 years of marriage in July, have been “the voice for the voiceless” and she found it fitting to honour them.
The first event will take place on Leah’s birthday next Wednesday – an event that will signal the refurbishment of the Old Granary.
Earlier this year the city announced plans to honour the Arch and Leah by leasing the building to the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
The celebrations will continue when De Lille dedicates her council speech to the Arch on October 28. On December 16, the city will host a reconciliation walk and an interfaith service that will end with a concert.
De Lille met with Tutu and his wife earlier on Tuesday for tea and said he was in good spirits.
“He calls me Ousie and he said to me after hearing about the plans, ‘Ousie, remember it was not me alone who did all of this. Without brave men and women in our country it wouldn’t have been possible’. And that is how modest he is,” she said.
“We would like to honour the Arch as a freeman of the city and a principled man and leader who not only spoke truth to power during apartheid butcontinued to do so in our new democracy… We want to celebrate the Arch and mama Leah during their lifetimes, just as we did with tata Mandela.”
Tutu’s eldest daughter, Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu, said the family was grateful that the city was celebrating her parents in a way “that is so truly appropriate for them”.
“We are incredibly grateful that you are investing in my parents with this joyous celebration.”
Mpho added that her father would take part in the celebrations as much as he was able to.
Tutu has been in and out of hospital since July for treatment for a persistent infection.
“As I keep reminding him, he is heading for 84 and not 48, so things are slower… he might not make it to the last hour of the concert if it ends at three in the morning.”
On Wednesday, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela will deliver the fifth annual Desmond Tutu Peace Lecture at UWC.
Her lecture will respond to the question, Democracy and Peace: What’s law got to do with it?
President Jacob Zuma on Thursday sent birthday wishes to Tutu.
The president said: “Archbishop Tutu has been a tireless and visible ambassador of our country all over the world for decades, promoting human rights and justice”.
Zuma added: “He continues to be a beacon of hope who is highly regarded by the South African people. I would like to wish the Archbishop Emeritus a happy 84th birthday today and may his health continue to improve”.
Cape Argus and ANA