“I am coloured,” says Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
That was his response when asked to comment on the row over government spokesman Jimmy Manyi’s comments and National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel’s response.
Manuel branded Manyi a racist “in the mould of HF Verwoerd” after remarks he made a year ago as director-general of labour about an “over-concentration of coloureds” in the Western Cape.
Speaking at a media briefing before delivering the annual Desmond Tutu Ecumenical Lecture at a packed hall at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on Wednesday afternoon, Tutu said: “I’m not supposed to say something about that. I’m trying to not get involved in a way.”
But, he said, it did appear there was “something afoot”.
“It is surprising that something that was said a year ago should suddenly come out as if it is a put-up job.
“For my own perspective, where would I be classified? According to my genome, which was sequenced, I am related to the San people, so I am coloured.”
Tutu, a Nobel Peace Laureate, said that having overcome apartheid, South Africans should not be turning on one another. “I am very deeply saddened.”
Tutu said the Freedom Charter belonged to all who lived in South Africa. He said that he, and other older people, were prompted to ask: “What is happening in our country?”
“There is a pain,” he said gesturing towards his chest.
Tutu, who described himself as on his “last legs”, slammed racism throughout his lecture titled “The Musings of a Decrepit”, his last before his retirement as UWC chancellor.
“Racism asserts that what endows persons with worth is a biological irrelevance such as skin colour … It does not tell you whether he is kind or clever.”
Tutu said corruption would drag South Africa down if left unchecked by its politicians and people.
“Our country, with such tremendous potential, is going to be dragged backwards and downwards by corruption, which in some instances is quite blatant.
Tutu warned that people were not fools.
“They notice things and one day they will explode … What is happening in north Africa is to remind governments everywhere that people are not fools. One day they will call rulers to account.”
Tutu pointed to the “ructions” in the Arab countries of Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, Yemen and in Egypt, where members of the public were instrumental in forcing Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to step down.
“So I thought to myself, ‘Hey, get out whilst the going is good, before they start toyi-toying to get you out!’ Yuh, do you want to be a chancellor for life? Not on your life.”
Tutu wandered from topic to topic as he discussed events which had recently made news headlines. He called on the students who filled the hall to appreciate their opportunity to be associated with this “outstanding institution” as he had done during his 24 years as chancellor.
Later, while telling a story about Struggle stalwart Cheryl Carolus, Tutu pointed to his speech where the word “carousel” had mistakenly been typed instead of Carolus. He chuckled, slapped his leg and said: “You have an example of my decrepitude!”
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