The remains of the archbishop, Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his stance against the apartheid regime, lie from today until tomorrow Friday in state in the temple as part of Category 1 funeral honors by the State.

Since early morning, mourners stood in long lines to parade in front of the open casket. Health authorities have implemented strict surveillance protocols against Covid-19.

Tutu’s ashes will be buried inside the church after his body has been cremated.

In this regard, Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba says that the public will always have the opportunity to visit the global icon’s grave after his burial.

In parallel, a memorial service is being held today at St. Mary’s Cathedral in the city of Johannesburg, attended by religious leaders and dignitaries.

Last Sunday, when Tutu died of natural causes at the age of 90, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted that his death constitutes ‘another chapter of mourning in our nation’s farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa’.

Following his death, numerous governments, leaders and international organizations have expressed their sorrow and conveyed their condolences to the South African people and government, extolling the Archbishop’s values as a paradigm of the struggles against oppression.

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