South African History Online

Mandela's speech at thanksgiving for Tutu

Cape Town, 23 June 1996

His Grace, the Most Revd, Desmond Mpilo Tutu:
His Grace, The Lord
Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd George Carey leaders of Churches and
religious communities in South Africa;
Your Majesty King Goodwill
Zwelithini;
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki;
Deputy President De
Klerk;
Distinguished guests from abroad;
Fellow South Africans;
Ladies
and gentlemen,

1. It is a true privilege and honour for me to share in this thanksgiving
   service for the Archbishop of Cape Town and the Primate of the Church of The
   Province of Southern Africa, retires in one week's time, just ahead of his
   65th birthday. I suspect that he is doing so just to set the record by
   retiring before I do!

ARCHBISHOP TUTU'S CONTRIBUTIONS

1. I know that I speak for all of you, when I say that Archbishop Desmond
   Tutu has been a blessing and inspiration to countless people, here and abroad,
   through his ministry; his acts of compassion; his prophetic witness; and his
   political engagement.
2. He has a distinguished record as a leader of his Church and the ecumenical
   movement, and as a fearless fighter against the evil and inhuman system of
   apartheid.
3. He is renowned for selfless commitment to the poor, the oppressed and
   downtrodden. With his colleagues he remained an effective voice of the people
   of South Africa when so many of their leaders were imprisoned, exiled, banned
   and restricted.
4. Desmond Tutu is esteemed the world over for his commitment to justice and
   peace everywhere. He is forthright in condemning corruption. As President of
   the All Africa Conference of Churches he missed no opportunity to speak out
   against human rights violations and oppressive regimes in our continent and
   elsewhere. The Nobel Peace Prize measures his extensive international
   recognition.
5. His most characteristic quality is his readiness to take unpopular
   positions without fear. Thus it was that he campaigned for sanctions against
   apartheid at a time when Churches in South Africa were still hesitating. He
   speaks his mind on matters of public morality. As a result he annoyed many of
   the leaders of the apartheid system. Nor has spared those that followed them -
   he has from time to time annoyed many of us who belong to the new order. But
   such independence of mind - however wrong and unstrategic it may at times be -
   is vital to a thriving democracy.
6. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank the Archbishop
   for his valuable contribution to the struggle for freedom and justice.
7. The way you accompanied our people on the long walk to freedom helped
   foster respect for life and for human rights, irrespective of colour,
   religion, gender or age.

THE CHALLENGES SOUTH AFRICA FACES

1. Our new constitution embodies and secures our collective vision of a just
   non-racial, non-sexist, democratic society.
2. Making a reality of that vision is the supreme challenge that faces us
   all. As long as many of our people still live in utter poverty; as long as
   children still live under plastic covers; as long as many of our people are
   still without jobs; no South African should rest and wallow in the joy of
   freedom.
3. The touchstone of our success in transforming South African society will
   be the extent to which we correct the imbalances and inequalities created by
   apartheid. The seriousness of our intent is inscribed in our macroeconomic
   strategy for growth, employment and redistribution. It is a framework within
   which all sectors of our society can join hands and, putting long-term
   interests above short-term considerations, achieve our goals for
   transformation, for reconstruction and development.

THE ROLE OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY

1. In this great partnership of religious community has a special and
   important role. As the Churches in South Africa and abroad accompanied us in
   the struggle for justice and peace, so should they now accompany us in
   building a just and equitable society.
2. This is not a call for the religious community to accompany government
   uncritically. Uncritical support would endanger our infant democracy. On the
   other hand criticism without visible action to help alleviate poverty and
   suffering can only serve to discredit the message of the Church. Rather, the
   way forward is in what some theologians have called "critical solidarity" with
   government in the reconstruction and development of the country.
3. The track record of the religious communities, both before and after the
   achievement of democracy, makes us confident that in them we do indeed have
   strategic partners, in the project of empowering our people to use their
   freedom to work together for a better life.

RECONCILIATION

1. In the building of our new nation, reconstruction goes hand in hand with
   reconciliation. We look to the Church, with its message of justice, peace,
   forgiveness and healing, to play a key role in helping our people, of every
   colour, to move from the divisions of the past to a future that is united in a
   commitment to correct wrongs and restore a just order.
2. Archbishop Tutu, with his celebration of our Rainbow Nation and his
   powerfully healing guidance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is an
   inspiration to us all in this most crucial task of reconciling our nation.
3. His joy in our diversity and his spirit of forgiveness are as much part of
   his immeasurable contribution to our nation as his passion for justice and his
   solidarity with the poor.

CONCLUSION

1. In conclusion, may I say again to the Archbishop: We are thankful for all
   that you have done. You were one of those who blazed the trail of the New
   Patriotism that is abroad in our land. We wish you peace and joy in your
   retirement.

Issued by: Office of the President