ARCHBISHOP Emeritus Desmond Tutu has told fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president FW de Klerk that he exercised daily and spent more time sitting in a chair, rather than lying in bed.
De Klerk visited Tutu at a Cape Town hospital on Thursdsay.
Alluding to a difficult period of his relationship with Tutu during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, De Klerk said he didn’t want to stay long and tire him.
“I tired you enough in the past,” De Klerk said
Responding to De Klerk, Tutu said: “You tired me, too!”
Tutu has been in and out of hospital for the past six weeks to receive intensive antibiotic treatment for an infection.
De Klerk said he looked forward to watching Tutu on the dance floor when he celebrated his 80th birthday early next year.
Tutu told De Klerk that if he didn’t feel up to dancing, he would certainly pray for him when he celebrated his birthday on March 18.
Meanwhile, the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town has invited the public to a prayer service for Tutu and retired Bishop Charles Albertyn and their families on Sunday.
The diocese said in its call to prayer: “The service will enable people to gather in a public act of worship to support Father Desmond and the Tutu family as he recovers from infection – and to celebrate his continuing ministry and presence among us.” – Staff Writer