Archbishop Desmond Tutu has moved to bury the hatchet with President Thabo Mbeki after Tutu’s criticism of the government last year, South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news reported on Thursday.
Tutu said the row was part of pain of South Africa’s new democracy, the station said.
Mbeki lashed out at Tutu last November after Tutu’s criticism of the government’s black economic empowerment policy, and chided the African National Congress for stifling debate.
On Thursday, Tutu said he has spoken to Mbeki three times after the row erupted and Mbeki is keen to meet with him soon.
Tutu, however, reiterated the need for more open debate in South Africa.
”We are learning, and maybe we ought not to be oversensitive when reactions happen,” the station quoted Tutu as saying.
”We are learning how to be democratic, we haven’t been before. We are doing something we haven’t been to school for.
”We are learning how you can differ and still like each other,” he said after meeting a delegation from the South African Council of Churches.
The council demanded that the ANC take action against one of its MPs who accused Tutu of being treasonous. — Sapa