Tutu 'recovering well' in hospital after surgery

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in hospital
Johannesburg, South AFrica

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was recovering well in hospital after undergoing elective surgery on Friday, the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre said on Monday.

“He had an elective surgical procedure on Friday and he’s fine,” said spokesman Roger Friedman.

“He could be released this afternoon though his family is quite keen for him to spend another night in hospital.”

Friedman declined to disclose the nature of the operation but said there was no cause for serious concern for the popular cleric who battled prostate cancer in the late 1990s.

“He has a number of bodily problems over the years but this was just a matter of allowing him to live more comfortably.”

University of Cape Town spokesperson Patricia Lucas said Tutu was scheduled to appear at a graduation ceremony on Monday morning, but could not attend because he had not been discharged.

Tutu was supposed to receive the Graca Machel Chancellor’s Award for Continental Leadership at the ceremony.

Tutu celebrated his 80th birthday in October.—Sapa