SOUTH AFRICAN NEWS: Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

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'He always has my nose peeping into my mouth'
October 07 2006 at 11:09AM

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu received an original Zapiro cartoon as a present for his 75th birthday at Unisa on Friday.

Tutu said: "I am always intrigued because, if you will notice, Zapiro always draws my nose peeping into my mouth.

"A very big thank you to the Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust and university. I am deeply touched and lack words to express my appreciation."

Unisa Vice-Chancellor Barney Pityana said it was a privilege hosting a man held in high esteem the world over.

Judy Henning, the chief operating officer of Unisa library, handed over the cartoon. "We admire you, and your achievements have reached across barriers of society in terms of class, race and religion to restore humanity," she said.

An exhibition - organised by the Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust - containing quotations from Tutu's speeches, pictures and books, was held at the Unisa library in Tutu's honour.
On what he would like to achieve in his remaining years, he said: "I would like to see the achievement of peace in Darfur, Zimbabwe and in the world over where there are trouble spots. Peace. Children and people living happy and peacefully."

On Saturday the trust will host a black-tie gala dinner to celebrate his 75th birthday at the Sandton Convention Centre. Former president Nelson Mandela, Mvelaphanda Holdings Chairman Tokyo Sexwale and JFPI Corporation Chairman André Action Jackson are among the dignitaries expected to attend.

Tutu said of the celebrations: "People expected me to die as a baby. I had polio. I then had TB when I was 13, and they thought I was going to die again. Then I was diagnosed with cancer. The years after that are all a bonus."