Desmond Tutu will be attending Nelson Mandela’s funeral today after all, it has been confirmed.
It was earlier reported that the Archbishop had not been granted the credentials to attend the ceremony, Mr Tutu said he was ‘heartbroken’ to be left off the guest list, and added it would have been ‘disrespectful to gatecrash’ the private event.
READ: ‘No accreditation’: Desmond Tutu Will Not Attend Nelson Mandela’s Funeral
Speaking to Sky News, the 82-year-old close friend to Nelson Mandela 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 gatecrash what was billed as a private family funeral.’
He has now been given an invitation by the organizers, and will be traveling to the small town of Qunu for the service
Mr Tutu’s office said in a brief statement: ‘Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu will be traveling to Qunu early tomorrow to attend Tata’s funeral.’
