The South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) is saddened at the passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
In reacting to the news of the death of the 90-year-old anti-apartheid struggle icon, the president of SASCOC, Mr Barry Hendricks, said that the last surviving South African laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize played a huge role in the country’s history, both during apartheid and after re-acceptance to the international community.
“It came as a shock to hear the news,” Mr Hendricks said. “The Archbishop was an example to all of us how to conduct our lives. He was a principled man who fought for justice and equality and he was a global icon. That we have lost such an influential, respected and acclaimed individual is a sad day.”
Mr Hendricks said that on behalf of SASCOC, thoughts and prayers and sincere condolences go out to Tutu’s wife Leah, the Tutu family, as well as he board and staff of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, The Elders and Nobel Laureate Group, and Tutu’s friends and associates nationally and all round the world.