Desmond Tutu: South Africa voice of justice goes home

By Philip Ugbodaga

His subsequent role as Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission following the election of Nelson Mandela as the first Black President of a free South Africa brought the needed balm to a country traumatized by decades of discrimination, inequities, injustice and human rights abuses.

Being a priest has always required great courage as only a courageous heart is able to respond to God’s radical invitation to follow him unreservedly as a priest. Tutu was courageous in challenging the apartheid regime in South Africa and also performing his role as a religious leader.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu who passed on a few days ago was 90 years old and lived a very fulfilled life doing almost everything that he set out to do, from the religious to the liberation struggle. Although he desired to be a medical practitioner, Tutu was unable to afford one and instead became a schoolteacher.

Comrade Desmond Tutu was a legend who in his lifetime and created a myth of what a young man growing up in an apartheid system could attain. I however have no words to fullydescribe the myth and the legend.

With the passing of Comrade Tutu, it appearslight has gone out and there is darkness everywhere. The type of light that he brought to the struggle against apartheid and to South Africa was no ordinary light. The light brought hope to a beleaguered people, it brought optimism to a disentangled people, it brought grandeur to a cloistered people and it brought buoyancy to a saggy struggle for freedom. The light gave solace to innumerable hearts during the years of the locust to illuminate the path to freedom.

With his association with the liberation movement in South Africa, Desmond Tuturisked imprisonment, and even death. He was an apotheosis of attributes that are seldomfound in one person – a fearless cleric, astutenegotiator, adroit organizer, unifier, problem-solver and tireless spiritual warrior. Dedicatinghis entire life to uphold the noble values of peace, companionship, tolerance, equality and justice, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. In sanctifying his memory, he will always be remembered for his friendship with the masses, his guidance for the struggle against apartheid, his frankness against injustice and his infectious sense of humour.

His subsequent role as Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission following the election of Nelson Mandela as the first Black President of a free South Africa brought the needed balm to a country traumatized by decades of discrimination, inequities, injustice and human rights abuses.

No matter the title he bore, the most distinguishing mark of his ministry wasspeaking truth to power. Throughout his entire ministry he upheld his idea of a ‘rainbow nation”where every South Africa irrespective of colour will live together in peace.

The world will never forget his broad smile and his hearty laugh. The world will not forget those moments when his eyes danced with delight over someone’s happiness or great accomplishment. Nor will the world forget those moments when his eyes welled up with tears over the great pain or grief someone was bearing. Nor will we forget seeing his head bowed in shame and contrition for the suffering inflicted upon hundreds and hundreds of children through segregated school and other obnoxious policies. None of us will ever forget when he stated that there will be no hope of real change from the apartheid government unless they were forced. None of us will forget when he stated that South Africans faced a catastrophe in their land and only the action of the international community by applying pressure can save them. In 1985, he said: “Our children are dying. Our land is bleeding and burning and so I call the international community to apply punitive sanctions against this government to help us establish a new South Africa – non-racial, democratic, participatory and just. This is a non-violent strategy to help us do so. There is a great deal of goodwill still in our country between the races. Let us not be so wanton in destroying it. We can live together as one people, one family, black and white together”.

Desmond Tutu’s death is a huge loss to the African continent and indeed all lovers of freedom and democracy. He left behind anindelible legacy of love and he will be sorely missed.

Dr Philip Ugbodaga is a Public Affairs Analyst.