South Africa and the world have reacted with sadness to the death of Desmond Tutu. The South African bishop died at home on Sunday at the age of 90.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson describes Tutu as a “critical figure” in the fight against apartheid and in the struggle to create a new South Africa. “He will be remembered for his spiritual leadership and irrepressible good humour”.
Members of Johnson’s cabinet also responded. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss describes Tutu as “the driving force behind ending apartheid in South Africa”. Her colleague at Justice, Dominic Raab, describes Tutu as “a truly great figure, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in The Hague when he was committed to the victims of war crimes”.
“Desmond Tutu combined the fight against apartheid with an important contribution to reconciliation between peoples. He contributed to a better world with his protest against apartheid policies, and in his later days, he became a leading figure in the fight for gay rights,” the statement said. Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
“I am saddened by the passing of a world sage, human rights leader and powerful pilgrim on earth. We are better because he was here,” said Bernice King, daughter of the murdered American pastor and human rights champion Martin Luther King.