City honours Tutu with symbol of freedom and democracy
WHAT an honour and fitting way to celebrate our beloved Arch’s 86th birthday. Arch, on behalf of the City of Cape Town and all residents, I wish you a blessed, happy birthday.
You have been blessed with another year, but it us who have been truly blessed to have you with us as you continue to be a shining light in what are very trying times for our country.
We are honouring you for your role in attaining our freedom and along with Mama Leah, for being a beacon of hope and a light that illuminated like a compassion through the dark days of our unjust past.
When the highest civic honour, the Freedom of the City, was conferred on Archbishop Tutu in 1998, part of his dedication read as follows:
“When freedom of expression was not allowed in South Africa, especially in the wake of the Soweto Uprisings of 1976, his voice emerged as a powerful force to challenge the injustices and inhumanities in this country.”
South Africa has long benefited from his wisdom and influence.
Cape Town is proud of his contribution towards justice and social transformation in South Africa.
It respects him for the value which he places on all human life and the way in which he urges everyone to accept and celebrate diversity in humanity.
As a leader in our faith community, the Arch continues to speak truth to power before and after our liberation.
He remains a leading light advocating for peace, equality and reconciliation.
We are truly blessed to have the Arch as a son of Cape Town and to honour him and Mama Leah within their lifetime, as we did with the father of our nation, Nelson Mandela.
On behalf of the people of Cape Town, I want to thank you and Mama Leah for your contribution to our city and our country.
This installation we are unveiling today will be a reminder to us about your legacy and values for decades to come. I was fortunate to be one of the members of the Constitutional Assembly that wrote the final constitution.
Today our constitution is under threat. Our constitution is more democratic than some of its drafters.
When we wrote the constitution and assigned powers to the president, we had leaders like Mandela in mind and unfortunately today we have a rogue president abusing those powers.
The Arch for the Arch, representing the 14 chapters of our constitution, must be a constant reminder to all of us about where we come from and to uphold the values contained therein.
The Arch personifies the values of our constitution and his wisdom and moral guidance continues to inspire us and will do so for generations to come.
Thank you to the team involved in bringing this tribute to life.
May all who walk past it be reminded that as South Africans, it is all of our duty to work in unity for the greater good and build the country that our beloved Tata Madiba, Robert Sobukwe, Steve Biko, the Arch and many others fought for in the Struggle for freedom and democracy.
Arch and Mama Leah, once again, thank you for all you have done for us and for all you continue to do. Patricia de Lille Cape Town Executive Mayor