A Troublesome Priest

I find it very sad that Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s criticism of Jacod Zuma and the ANC has been condemned by the ANC as “sacrilege”. Apart from Mandela himself, nobody has done more to ensure a peaceful transition from white rule to majority rule than Desmond Tutu. He was responsible for the Truth and Reconciliation commission that helped the new nation through the catharsis of airing the truth about Apartheid South Africa. He was tireless in his advocacy for black africans and, frankly, was only spared the fate of people like Steve Biko because of the reluctance of even the most verkrampt (bigoted) of afrikaaners to harm a clergyman.

Archbishop Tutu  has never been afraid of condemning corrupt and unjust practices. This has got him into trouble with successive governments with the latest being Jacob Zuma’s ANC. Zuma has been assiduously trying to avoid a public trial for corruption for several years. Archbishop Tutu has been consistent in condemning the machinations of Zuma and the tacit approval of these machinations by the ANC.  Now it seems that the ANC considers itself an untouchable religious organisation as they consider Tutu’s criticism as sacrilege.

They should take a long hard look at themselves. Desmond Tutu has always spoken from the high moral ground. For an organisation to dismiss his criticism as beneath them is highly dangerous. Tutu provides them with a moral compass. An organisation without a moral compass is destined to shipwreck itself on the shoals of hubris.

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