Desmond Tutu Bows Out at 79

Archbishop Desmond Tutu retires from public life, aged 79. The man South African’s called their “conscience” has been an outspoken member of the world stage for decades. He entered our consciousness in the 1970’s when he was a very vocal critic of apartheid and the South African white government.

Since then he has spoken out about injustices across the world. He has also been the voice of reconciliation in many African conflicts. The winner of the Nobel Peace prize says he wants to slow down a bit and spend more time with his family.

In the mid-1980s, when South Africa was still under white minority rule, he campaigned in the townships - on one occasion famously wading into the frontline to call for calm when a mob tried to lynch a suspected undercover policeman.

He became the first black archbishop of Cape Town in 1986.

After South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, he chaired the Truth and Reconciliation commission - the body set up to investigate apartheid-era crimes - and occasionally broke down in tears at some of the horrific testimony.

But he always tried to forgive, saying in 2000 that: "Resentment and anger are bad for your blood pressure and your digestion."

He has continued to court controversy - singling out leaders such as Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and Britain's Tony Blair for criticism.

Earlier this year, he described South Africa's hosting of the football World Cup finals as one of the most important events for the country since the end of apartheid.

He insists his departure aims to clear the way for new talent to blossom, but our correspondent says he remains a potent symbol of South African pride.

source : http://www.thirdage.com/