The late Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be laid to rest on Saturday. Tutu died on Sunday, at the age of 90. The Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation has announced a series of events that will lead up to the funeral service.

The Foundation says the bells of the St George’s Cathedral in the Cape Town CBD will ring for 10 minutes at midday from Monday to Friday. The Foundation has asked that anyone who is able to hear the bells, take a moment to reflect on the Arch’s life.

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) will hold a memorial service in Pretoria on Wednesday. On Thursday evening, there will be an intimate evening with the friends of the Arch and his wife, Leah. The Arch will then lay in state on Friday in the St George’s Cathedral.

The Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, will lead the funeral service on Saturday. On Sunday, Rev Frank Chikane said the late Anglican Archbishop was at the forefront during the struggle against apartheid. He says Tutu stood between people and the then security forces.

Chikane says he used to ask for advice and direction from Tutu during difficult times.
Meanwhile, a Kimberley-based priest says the late Anglican Archbishop sowed the seed of forgiveness and people should continue his legacy.

Priest of the St. Mary’s Cathedral says many leaders can learn from what Tutu stood for. Catholic priest Victor Tlholo reflects on the late Archbishop’s life.

“Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the man whom I knew as a man who practiced forgiveness in South Africa, especially, with the Truth and Reconciliation where he was involved in asking people to forgive each other despite what happened.

‘Whatever the struggles they faced in their own lives. He reminded us that our God is a God who forgives and that’s what I remember about him – because he was a man of forgiveness and wanted people to reconcile with each other.