Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a revered anti-apartheid fighter, passed away at the age of 90 on Sunday. His body will lie in state for two days at St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town, his former parish, ahead of his funeral on New Year's Day.
The initial plan was for the lying in state to last just one day, but it has been extended to Thursday to accommodate more mourners, according to the Archbishop Tutu IP Trust and Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.
South Africa's national flag has been placed at half-mast since Monday, and Cape Town city hall and the famous Table Mountain have been illuminated in purple, the colour of Tutu's gown.
Religious services are being held around the country in his honour, and the bells of Cape Town cathedral have tolled for 10 minutes at noon since Monday to start a moment of reflection on Tutu's deeds.
Tutu was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997 and repeatedly underwent treatment. He had been weak for several months before his death.
His foundations have said that Tutu was very clear on his wishes for his funeral, which include a simple and inexpensive ceremony. He asked that the coffin be the cheapest available and that a bouquet of carnations from his family be the only flowers in the cathedral.
AFP / RODGER BOSCH
