CAPE TOWN - A deluge of love and well wishes from individuals and organisations around the world has been pouring in for Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s milestone 90th birthday on Thursday.
In a statement from Dr Mamphela Ramphele for the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Intellectual Property Trust, she said besides planning to attend a special thanksgiving service at St George’s Cathedral in the city, the Archbishop and Leah Tutu would spend the day at home surrounded by family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“Among close family members who have travelled to Cape Town this week are two of the couple’s overseas-based daughters, Naomi and Mpho, and the Archbishop’s sister, Mrs Gloria Radebe, from Krugersdorp.”
Tutu’s 90th birthday is being marked by a series of events arranged by the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, including the online presentation of the 11th Annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture.
This year’s special lecture features four previous speakers, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, former Irish president Mary Robinson, chairperson of The Elders, Graca Machel, and former South African public protector Thuli Madonsela.
St George’s Cathedral is also expected to hold a church service in celebration of Tutu’s life.
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba will preside over the service, while the Reverend Allan Boesak, who led the church’s struggle against apartheid in the 1980s and early 1990s with Tutu and other clerics, was expected to give a sermon.
“On behalf of the Archbishop and Mrs Tutu we’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to making this week special, including all who have sent birthday greetings, cards and flowers,” Ramphele said.
Cape Times