PRESS STATEMENT: Africa4Palestine mourns the loss of Archbishop Desmond Tutu
26 December 2021
The human rights organization #Africa4Palestine joins fellow South Africans, Africans and peace-loving peoples across the world in mourning the loss of Archbishop Desmond Tutu – a dear friend of the Palestinian people.
Archbishop Tutu was a close confidant of #Africa4Palestine – someone whom we consulted with, asked for advice and sought support from. Tutu was an ally of all oppressed peoples across the globe and specifically of the Palestinian people in their struggle against Israeli Apartheid.
#Africa4Palestine Board Member, Professor Farid Esack, a personal friend of the Archbishop, commented:
“We and the Palestinians have lost an indomitable fighter, a courageous leader and a moral icon without equal. We are bereft of a prophet who consistently warned against ideas of cheap peace which may come without justice. I am immensely grateful for having travelled and worked with the Archbishop in the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa, in solidarity with the Palestinians against Israeli occupation and in supporting various other causes. His boundless love, his wit and humour and his unflinching and principled commitment to a better world will always inspire us”.
The human rights organization, #Africa4Palestine, pays homage to the life and struggle of our comrade and father, Archbishop Tutu, and we offer our deep condolences to Mama Leah and his children – Trevor Thamsanqa, Naomi Nontombi, Theresa Thandeka, and Reverend Mpho.
We, in a profound and deeply painful way, say “Hamba Kahle” (go well) our leader, inspirer and energiser of the oppressed.
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Click here for a short video of Archbishop Desmond Tutu addressing a rally for Palestine in Cape Town. The protest march, attended by over 250 000 people, was the largest that South Africa witnessed (on any issue) since the dawn of democracy. The protest march for Palestine was organized by the MJC, ANC, NC4P and #Africa4Palestine together with other organizations. It was attended by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chief Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, several government Ministers, MPs and others including members of the South African Jewish community.
ISSUED BY TISTESO MAGAMA ON BEHALF OF AFRICA4PALESTINE
For comment –
Personal friend of Archbishop Tutu and #Africa4Palestine Board Member Professor Farid Esack: +27 (0) 834599989
#Africa4Palestine Spokesperson, Tisetso Magama: +27 (0) 61 414 6348
#Africa4Palestine Director, Muhammed Desai: +27 (0) 71 138 4423
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