/ 14 December 2013

Tutu says he won’t ‘gate-crash’ funeral of Mandela

Nelson Mandela hugs Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Nelson Mandela hugs Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the most prominent figures in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, has been excluded from the funeral of Nelson Mandela on Sunday in what has been described as a politically motivated snub.

In a statement on Saturday, Tutu said: "Much as I would have loved to attend the service to say a final farewell to someone I loved and treasured, it would have been disrespectful to Tata to gate-crash what was billed as a private family funeral. Had I or my office been informed that I would be welcome there is no way on earth that I would have missed it." 

Tutu has presided over the funerals of other struggle heroes, such as Steve Biko, Chris Hani and Walter Sisulu.

Critics accused the ANC of looking petty by apparently failing to invite Tutu, one of the most vocal campaigners for Mandela's release from jail during white minority rule.

An estimated 5 000 guests including Prince Charles, Malawian president Joyce Banda and various other dignitaries will attend the state funeral in Qunu, the village where Mandela grew up. Tutu's daughter Mpho, chief executive of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, said on Friday: "The archbishop is not an accredited clergy person for the event and will thus not be attending." His office declined to comment further.

The former archbishop has become a fierce critic of the ANC in recent years. In 2011 he compared it unfavourably to the apartheid regime and warned that "one day we will pray for the defeat of the ANC government".

Eyebrows were raised when Tutu's name did not appear on the order of service for Mandela's national memorial service in Johannesburg on Tuesday. He was eventually invited to speak after the main programme, but by then the stadium was virtually empty.

Holomisa's response
His absence from Sunday's burial, the climax of an unprecedented week of mourning, provoked anger and bewilderment. Bantu Holomisa, a former ANC politician close to the Mandela family, said: "There must be a mistake. Why would the government not do that? He should be the first person accredited. It's strange – there must have been a breakdown."

Asked if Tutu's attacks on the ANC were the cause, Holomisa replied: "They cannot use that. Mandela and Tutu were like brothers. Mandela had time for Tutu and Tutu had time for Mandela. It doesn't sound good at all." Aubrey Matshiqi, a research fellow at the Helen Suzman Foundation, said: "It's quite sad that he's not been invited. Is it the family or is it the government? Is it both? Did the family come under pressure not to invite him?

"It's a very bad decision, given how close they were. In the absence of a convincing explanation, it looks petty."

Allister Sparks, a veteran journalist and biographer of Tutu, said: "I don't know what to make of it. I would have thought he belonged there. Tutu has been quite a vocal critic of the ANC. It comes as a surprise and arouses suspicions of a political motivation behind it."

Reflecting on Tutu's relationship with Mandela, Sparks added: "They were very close. Through the period when Mandela was in jail, Tutu was effectively the leader of the liberation struggle in this country."

Tutu condemning Mandela family
Earlier this year Tutu condemned the Mandela family for fighting each other in court while Mandela lay ill in hospital, describing their public battle over his children's burial place as "almost like spitting in Madiba's face".

A spokesperson for the Mandelas said: "The family is not involved in who should come and not come at that level. They are busy mourning. It is the state that is encouraging people to attend or not attend. I'm not aware of any exclusion."

Government ministers in Qunu on Friday were reluctant to comment on the matter. Dipuo Peters, the transport minister, said: "In African culture we don't invite people to funerals; they say they would like to attend. I don't know about Bishop Tutu – you're giving me news."

ANC spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment. – © Guardian News and Media 2013 

Additional reporting by Sapa