South Africa’s icon and 1984 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu celebrates 89th birthday
South Africa’s icon and the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is celebrating his 89th birthday today October 7, 2020.
In a statement on Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his warmest congratulations Desmond Tutu, saying he is “a national treasure and global icon.”
The President said: “Archbishop Tutu is a national treasure and global icon of moral consistency, spiritual virtue and the defence of the most vulnerable people not only in South Africa but around the world.
“Today we are united in celebrating the passing of another year in which we have benefited from the Archbishop’s wisdom, the bravery of his conviction in fighting for human rights, the warmth of his love for all South Africans and his care for humanity.
“I wish Archbishop Tutu a very happy birthday in the company of Mama Leah, the family and colleagues in the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation.”
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.