South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 28 December 2021

We’ve got all the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa you really need to know on Tuesday 28 December 2021.

It has been a sad two days in South Africa, and for the rest of the world, after Archbishop Desmond Tutu passed away on Sunday, aged 90.

Several events are planned across the country ahead of Desmond Tutu’s funeral on Saturday. The funeral of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will be held on Saturday at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town.

Tutu will be cremated, and his ashes will be interred at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town. He will lie in State on Friday, and the public will be allowed to file past his coffin, which will reflect the simplicity with which he asked to be buried.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Tuesday 29 December

Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s funeral to take place on New Year’s Day

The funeral of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will be held on Saturday at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba reportedly said Tutu’s will be cremated, and his ashes will be interred at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town.

According to a News24 report Tutu will lie in State on Friday, and the public will be allowed to file past his coffin, which will reflect the simplicity with which he asked to be buried.

Members of the public can pay their respects while he lies in state. Tutu’s remains will then lie overnight, alone. His funeral would be held at the cathedral at 10:00 on Saturday, 1 January 2022.

Tutu (90) suffered from prostate cancer after being diagnosed with the disease in 1997. He was the last surviving South African laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu died peacefully in Cape Town, with his wife Leah at his side.

How you can pay tribute to Desmond Tutu

Do you want to pay tribute to Desmond Tutu? Several events are planned across the country ahead of Desmond Tutu’s funeral on Saturday. Here is how you can pay homage to Tutu.

You can lay flowers outside St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town.

Arrangements for St George’s Cathedral for the week:

• Tutu will lie in State on Friday, and the public will be given an opportunity to file past his coffin, which will reflect the simplicity with which he asked to be buried.
• Members of the public can pay their respects while he lies in state.
• Tutu’s remains will then lie overnight, alone.
• Bishop Michael Nuttall, the retired Bishop of Natal, who was Dean of the Anglican Church in Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s time will officiate the service.
• The choir will be the renowned Johannesburg choir, which Tutu loved, Imilonji ka Ntu, whose contribution may have to be streamed in. 

Click here for a list of the events planned for the week.

RIP Desmond Tutu: Leaders, billionaires, and faith figures hail ‘guiding light’

It’s a very sad day in South Africa, and for the rest of the world, after Archbishop Desmond Tutu passed away earlier this morning, aged 90. The anti-apartheid hero and equality champion set the tone for us all, in the goal to build a ‘Rainbow Nation’ in Mzansi.

The tributes continue to flood in – with many coming from some of the most influential people on the planet.

He’s been described as everything from a ‘guiding light’ to ‘a man of action’, and the plaudits have swelled on Sunday 26 December. World leaders, religious figures, and even a very familiar billionaire have all hailed The Arch on Boxing Day…

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew out of the blocks to praise Desmond Tutu for his ’emphasis on dignity’:

“Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was a guiding light for countless people globally. His emphasis on human dignity and equality will be forever remembered. I am deeply saddened by his demise, and extend my heartfelt condolences to all his admirers. May his soul rest in peace.”

Narendra Modi

Most wanted member of notorious Boko Haram gang ARRESTED

A most wanted member of the notorious Boko Haram was traced, located, and arrested in Mamelodi on Sunday.

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, this is a gang that was allegedly involved in robberies, extortion, intimidation, and other serious and violent crimes in Mamelodi and the surrounding areas.

“Gauteng police successfully traced and arrested a 31-year-old man who is on the list of the most wanted suspects who are part of a notorious gang that calls themselves Boko Haram.

“The man was traced and located in Mamelodi where he was arrested on Sunday, 26 December 2021,” he said.

Masondo added that the man is suspected to be involved in crimes such as business robbery, extortion, intimidation and other serious and violent crimes.

“He is also reported to be involved in a chain store robbery in Mamelodi where an undisclosed amount of cash and groceries were taken,” he said.

Mbalula enraged by attack on Desmond Tutu: ‘Chicken audacity’

In an ironic twist of fate, it seems like the death of Desmond Tutu has proven quite divisive. For a man heralded for preaching peace and unity, the Archbishop’s death has prompted outrage from some for a number of reasons.

This has drawn the ire of Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who took to his official social media page to make his displeasure known. Commenting on the backlash following the news of Tutu’s death, a clearly enraged Mbalula slammed an unknown individual.

“Am not shocked by this johnny come late who are eating on a silver  spoon going on on and on attacking  the arch with chicken audacity. ArchBishop Desmond Tutu and his generation deserve nothing but our respect. They were not infallible but stood firm for our liberation.”

Minister Fikile Mbalula

In the hours following Tutu’s death going public, De Klerk trended on Twitter with some feeling that the two men were equals.

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