By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday, flags will fly at half-mast across SA and at diplomatic missions overseas after the death of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
Details of Tutu’s funeral will be announced in the next few days, Ramaphosa said in an address on Sunday night.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate died peacefully in a frail care facility on Sunday. He was 90 years old
Speaking on Sunday night, Ramaphosa described Tutu as “one of the most illustrious, courageous and beloved among us” — and as someone who “embodied the essence of our humanity”.
“Knowing he was ill for some time now does little to soften the blow that has been dealt to SA this very sad day. We’ve lost a person who carried the burden of leadership with compassion, with dignity, with humility and with such good humour,”said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said that Tutu — through his work as chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation and his struggle against the apartheid regime — “saw the depths of which human beings could descend in the subjugation and oppression of others”.
“Yet his faith in humanity and in people, like his faith in God, was unwavering. He knew that apartheid would one day end and that democracy would come. He knew that our people will be free one day. By the same measure, he was convinced, even to the end of his life, that poverty, hunger, misery can be defeated; that all people can live together in peace, security and comfort,” he said.
This is a testament of the broad reach of Tutu’s persona. Our nation’s loss is felt globally, said Ramaphosa.
Above all, let us abide by the words of First Corinthians 13, verse 13:”And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Ramphosa concludes saying: “He loved his fellow men and women. He loved the Church. He loved his country.
Go well, good and faithful servant. You will be sorely missed.
Tutu was married to Nomalizo Leah Tutu for 66 years and had four children, Trevor, Thandeka, Naomi and Mpho.