The remains of the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu were laid to rest before the high altar of St George’s Cathedral during a private ceremony on Sunday morning, 2 January.

MAKGOBA SAYS CTIA SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER DESMOND TUTU

Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba led the 30-minute service, which was attended by Tutu’s wife, children and other family members.

Makgoba suggested that Cape Town International Airport should be renamed Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu International Airport in his homily on Sunday, in order to honour the memory of the man, and called on the nation to use Tutu’s legacy to turn a new page.

“Let us commit ourselves as a church and society to the radical, the revolutionary change that he advocated, based on the demands of the Bible. Let us live as simply as he lived, exemplified by his pine coffin with rope handles,” said Makgoba.

“Let those of us who have resources pull in our belts, that others can eat enough to fill their stomachs. Let us reorder our society to end inequality and create equal opportunities for all. And why don’t we rename the Cape Town International Airport the Desmond Mpilo Tutu International Airport.”

Desmond Tutu died on 26 December 2021, at the age of 90. A requiem Mass was held in St George’s Cathedral on New Year’s Day for his funeral and his body was prepared for internment via a ‘water cremation’ called aquamation.

Church officials said Tutu requested the environmentally-friendly process because it uses less energy than traditional ‘fire-only’ cremation.

Tutu’s remains were interred under a memorial stone that detailed his birth, death and his service to Cape Town.