Desmond Tutu to be honoured with state funeral
The Presidency has announced an Official Category 1 funeral for the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The 90-year-old anti-apartheid struggle stalwart and religious leader died on Sunday after an ongoing illness.
Desmond Tutu was the first black cleric to be elected as the Bishop of Johannesburg before being inaugurated in 1986 as the first black cleric to become Archbishop of Cape Town.
He also served as the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and as Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
READ: Graça Machel bids farewell to 'loyal friend' Desmond Tutu
He's expected to be laid to rest this Saturday with his funeral service being held at the St George's Cathedral in Cape Town.
In a statement, the Presidency says while a Category 1 Official Funeral includes ceremonial elements by the SA National Defence Force this will be scaled down to just a flag handover to Leah Tutu., as per the late archbishop's request.
It goes on to say the president has requested the Category 1 funeral as a mark of deep respect for the late Tutu.
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