Statement by the City’s Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille
City to celebrate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Leah
Tutu
Note to editors: the announcement below was made by City of Cape Town
Executive Mayor, Patricia de Lille, at a media briefing earlier today, 6
October 2015
The Very Reverend Dean of St George’s Cathedral, Father Michael Weeder
Reverend Mpho Tutu
Members of the media
Thank you for joining us today.
I feel greatly honoured to announce the City of Cape Town’s plans to
celebrate the life and work of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in
promoting peace, reconciliation and equality in our country.
The Arch, as we fondly know him, is a great spiritual leader in our city and
country and his contribution to the fight against apartheid and in building our
new democracy is legendary.
For more than 60 years, Archbishop Emeritus Tutu and his wife, Leah, have
been the voice of the voiceless.
They have campaigned tirelessly to advance the cause of human rights,
justice, reconciliation and the values enshrined in our Constitution.
Through our painful, sad and divided past, our history of Colonialism, through
the advent of democracy and in our current transition, Archbishop Emeritus
Tutu and Mama Leah have been significant figures in the fight for freedom,
fairness and equality.
As we celebrate his birthday tomorrow, it is fitting that we remind people of
the work done by this great leader.
As the first black Archbishop of the Anglican Church, Tutu made history
across the world for the central role he played during and following
apartheid.
I am reminded of the many meetings he convened at St George’s
Cathedral, which became a common meeting point for activism and
resistance in the struggle.
From the steps of ‘the people’s church’, the Arch led numerous marches and
campaigns, mobilising masses in the fight for freedom.
One of the most prominent and powerful examples of resistance was the 13
September 1989 peace march led by the Arch and several religious, civic,
academic, and activist leaders.
This gathering of various faiths and many brave men and women saw an
intensified effort against the State of Emergency and a firm move towards
ushering in a new order and a free country when 30 000 people marched
from St George’s Cathedral through the streets of Cape Town with the Arch
stating firmly, I quote: ‘Our cause is just’
Indeed, the Arch accurately stated that it was ‘a day in which we the people
have scored a great victory for justice and peace’.
The Arch led many such marches and was arrested in 1988 outside
Parliament while leading a march against the death sentence of the
‘Sharpeville Six’. He was freed a few hours later.
As the Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Archbishop
Emeritus Tutu was an instrumental mediator providing support, reparation and
healing to the victims of apartheid crimes and their families.
During our Inclusive City (anti-racism) campaign this year, the Arch said:
‘Reconciliation is not an event; it is a process’.
In April, the City announced plans to honour the Arch and Mama Leah and
assist in preserving and promoting their legacy of peace by leasing the Old
Granary building to the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
One of the objectives of the Legacy Foundation is to position Cape Town as
a world capital for the intellectual and practical pursuit of local and global
peace, morality and human dignity.
This speaks to our vision of building a caring and inclusive city, and will help to
position Cape Town as a capital of peace and reconciliation.
We want to celebrate the Arch and Mama Leah during their lifetimes, just as
we did with another Freeman of the City, Tata Madiba.
Our first event will take place next week at the Old Granary building, on the
day of Mama Leah’s birthday, 14 October 2015.
This will signal the start of the refurbishment of the Old Granary and the start
of creating a space that will continue the great work of the Desmond and
Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
On 28 October 2015, I will dedicate my Council speech to the Arch and will
make a pledge to recommit the City to embracing the values and principles
that the Arch stands for into our governance work.
On 16 December 2015, the City will host a Reconciliation Walk and interfaith
service to celebrate the Arch and Mama Leah as well as the many leaders
and men and women who took up the cause for a free and fair society.
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 but
continued to do so in our new democracy.
We hope to make this a truly special time for the Tutus and the residents of
our city as we reflect on and celebrate the inspiring work of our beloved Arch
and Mama Leah.
As we continue on the road they have laid out, I call on all residents to join us
in promoting peace, reconciliation and respect in all we do.
We need to work together to revitalise the hope and optimism that we felt at
the dawn of our democracy in 1994.
We have taken great strides but there is more work to be done, and it is only
by joining hands that we will be able to make progress possible, together.
In closing, I would like to wish the Arch a happy, blessed birthday for
tomorrow. It is with immense gratitude that we say thank you again for your
role in the fight against oppression and for our freedom. Your contribution to
our country has been invaluable. May you have a wonderful day and many
more blessed years.
God bless.